Woman whose baby was stillborn in HMP Styal praises sentencing changes – The Guardian

‘A former prisoner who gave birth to a stillborn baby in a jail toilet has welcomed changes that campaigners hope will reduce the number of pregnant women locked up, as a “legacy” for the daughter she lost.’

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The Guardian, 18th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sentencing Council to make changes to manslaughter guidelines and introduce new guidance for sentencing pregnant offenders – Sentencing Council

‘Changes to a number of sentencing guidelines have been published by the Sentencing Council following a consultation on miscellaneous amendments. The changes, which will come into effect on 1 April 2024, include amendments to the manslaughter guidelines made in response to recommendations in the Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review and the introduction of a new, dedicated mitigating factor providing guidance for courts on sentencing pregnant offenders and new mothers.’

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Sentencing Council, 18th March 2024

Source: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Court of Protection declares lawfulness of care plan setting out arrangements for termination of woman’s pregnancy – Local Government Lawyer

‘A judge sitting in the Court of Protection has declared that a care plan setting out the arrangements for the termination of a woman’s pregnancy was lawful.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

NHS fertility centre’s licence suspended after ‘errors’ led to loss of embryos – The Independent

Posted March 11th, 2024 in hospitals, news, pregnancy by tracey

‘A fertility clinic in London has had its licence to operate suspended due to “significant concerns”.’

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The Independent, 9th March 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Triangulation and flexibility: taking capacity seriously in changing circumstances – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

‘Re DY [2024] EWCOP 4 is a case showing how demanding taking capacity seriously is – and should be. It concerned a young woman, whom the court had previously found to lack capacity in to make decisions about residence, care and contact, but to have capacity to make decisions about engaging in sexual relations, in face of strenuous arguments to the contrary from the local authority. Injunctive orders were then made against the woman’s former foster carer, suspected of sexually abusing DY; at a subsequent hearing, the court made a final order that DY had the capacity to make decisions relating to her use of contraception, having accepted a report from DY’s GP.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 11th February 2024

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

Contact, contraception, conception and conceptual clarity: Poole J dissects a difficult question – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

‘Poole J is rapidly becoming the specialist sexual capacity judge at the Court of Protection. Following his decisions in Hull City Council v KF [2022] EWCOP 33, and Re PN (Capacity: Sexual Relations and Disclosure) [2023] EWCOP 44, we now have Re EE (Capacity: Contraception and Conception) [2024] EWCOP 5. The case concerned a 31 year old woman who wanted to become pregnant and have a baby; her capacity to engage in sexual relations, to decide about contact with others, and to make decisions about contraception, were all in issue and required the court’s determination.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 11th February 2024

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

Primodos patients ‘betrayed’ after being left out of health scandals redress report – The Guardian

‘Campaigners have accused the UK government of betraying them after a review of redress for victims of health scandals excluded families who may have been affected by the hormone pregnancy test Primodos.’

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The guardian, 7th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Eaglescliffe woman found not guilty of ‘home abortion’ – BBC News

Posted January 10th, 2024 in abortion, Crown Prosecution Service, news, pregnancy, prosecutions by sally

‘A woman charged with carrying out an illegal abortion on herself has been found not guilty on the eve of her trial after the prosecution dropped the case due to “evidential difficulties”.’

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BBC News, 9th January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Employment law changes to expect in 2024 – Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog

‘From the day-one right to request flexible working to the introduction of rolled-up holiday pay, Georgia Roberts runs through the employment law changes HR must prepare for in 2024.’

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Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog, 5th January 2024

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

FemTech: Top data protection tips for period and fertility-tracking apps – Mills & Reeve

Posted January 4th, 2024 in advertising, data protection, internet, news, pregnancy, women by sally

‘Following the announcement by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) of their review into how period and fertility-tracking apps process user information, my data protection colleagues David Hall and Robert Beveridge, carried out an assessment of the data protection compliance of a small sample of apps and provide their top tips for FemTech app providers.’

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Mills & Reeve, 3rd January 2024

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

Mother whose baby died in prison calls for end to pregnant women being jailed – The Independent

‘A mother whose baby died when she gave birth alone in her prison cell has urged ministers to stop sending pregnant women to jail.’

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The Independent, 14th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Mothers who kill: A look at infanticide – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted November 14th, 2023 in birth, child neglect, children, homicide, murder, news, pregnancy, prosecutions by sally

‘Murders where mothers kill their babies are thankfully rare, however recent cases raise questions about the legal framework surrounding this offence, and whether laws concerning murder, manslaughter and infanticide are applied in a way that protects not only vulnerable children but also vulnerable women.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 9th October 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

SP v DM [2023] EWHC 2089 (Fam): Important ruling on giving evidence in Family Court proceedings – Pallant Chambers

Posted November 9th, 2023 in appeals, chambers articles, evidence, families, family courts, news, pregnancy by sally

‘Eve Anstey for Respondent Father – Giving evidence at a fact-finding hearing is, at the best of times, a stressful and emotional experience. Add to that a pregnancy in its third trimester and an important issue on principle is raised about the parameters of the court’s duty to ensure that a trial is conducted fairly whilst ensuring that the mother’s vulnerability is properly protected. In SP v DM, Sir Jonathan Cohen considered that very issue and the Appellant mother’s arguments which significantly attacked the court for purported procedural irregularity in the way that it conducted the fact-finding hearing in respect of mother’s evidence in light of her pregnancy. The appeal was dismissed on all grounds.’

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Pallant Chambers, 14th October 2023

Source: www.pallantchambers.co.uk

Termination, will and preferences – another difficult dilemma for the Court of Protection – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

Posted October 26th, 2023 in abortion, consent, Court of Protection, news, pregnancy by sally

‘The very difficult case of Re H (An Adult; Termination) [2023] EWCOP 183[1] stands out for the careful attempt by the judge – John McKendrick KC (sitting as a Tier 3 judge) to comply with (in CRPD language) the will and preferences of a woman with a mental disorder undergoing a profound crisis. The questions he had to answer were whether the woman, H, had capacity to make the decision to consent to terminate her pregnancy,[2] and, if she lacked that capacity, whether a termination was in her best interests; and, if a termination were to be in her best interests, whether this should be carried out by a medical procedure (i.e. the administration of drugs) or a surgical procedure.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 25th October 2023

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

Pregnant girl, 11, who was raped twice should have a termination, judge rules – The Independent

Posted October 12th, 2023 in abortion, children, forensic science, human tissue, news, pregnancy, rape by sally

‘A pregnant 11-year-old girl who has twice been raped by teenage boys should have a termination, a High Court judge has ruled.’

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The Independent, 11th October 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

George’s Law – Pump Court Chambers

Posted October 4th, 2023 in bereavement, chambers articles, families, maternity leave, news, podcasts, pregnancy by sally

‘Keeley Lengthorn of Taylor Rose MW speaks to host Imogen Robins about her awe inspiring campaign for statutory leave for baby loss under 24 weeks of pregnancy. Keeley talks frankly about her own experiences which led her to be a campaigner, and listeners should be trigger-warned in relation to baby loss. This is not family law, but it is law affecting families and Keeley’s honesty and tenacity makes this a must-listen.’

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Pump Court Chambers, 1st September 2023

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Nottingham NHS maternity care review calls on families to come forward – The Independent

Posted September 27th, 2023 in birth, children, families, hospitals, midwives, news, pregnancy by sally

‘The head of the independent review of maternity care in Nottingham has called on families who feel they may have been affected to come forward, as hundreds are set to receive letters inviting them to share their experiences.’

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The Independent, 26th September 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police to launch inquiry into maternity failings at Nottingham hospitals trust – The Guardian

Posted September 8th, 2023 in bereavement, birth, children, families, hospitals, midwives, news, police, pregnancy by tracey

‘Nottinghamshire police have announced they are launching a criminal investigation into maternity failings at Nottingham university hospitals (NUH) NHS trust, after hundreds families raised concerns to an independent review.’

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The Guardian, 7th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronial powers and the rights of the unborn (Part 1) – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In this two-part article, Maya Sikand KC, Tom Stoate, and Ruby Peacock, explore two difficult questions arising from the inquest into the “harrowing circumstances” of the death of a baby, Aisha Cleary, at HMP Bronzefield. This first part seeks to answer the question: should coroners have jurisdiction to investigate stillbirths?’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 11th August 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Woman in Teesside accused of carrying out own abortion to appear before judge – The Guardian

Posted August 14th, 2023 in abortion, news, pregnancy by tracey

‘A 22-year-old woman accused of procuring a poison to abort her child shortly after the first Covid lockdown is due to appear before a judge this week. Bethany Cox is the fourth woman to be prosecuted in the last eight months for allegedly carrying out her own abortion, with only three trials in the 160 years before that, according to campaigners.’

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The Guardian, 13th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com