People with HIV can now donate eggs or sperm to start a family
People with HIV are now able to donate their sperm or eggs to their partners, as the law in the UK is updated. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act will be amended via a statutory instrument to allow people with non-transmissible HIV – with a viral load low enough not to pass on – to […]
Mother shares childbirth horror that led to son’s death in wake of NHS birth trauma inquiry
Medical negligence solicitors in the UK are expecting a surge in claims as the NHS is embroiled in a birth trauma inquiry following reports of sub-standard medical care in midwifery and obstetrics. After a review of evidence and 1,300 submissions to parliament from mothers who gave birth in NHS hospitals, the health body has been […]
Half of adults believe smacking should be banned in England
Over half of adults believe that smacking children should be banned in England and that the defence of ‘reasonable chastisement’ should be scrapped. A survey of 3,500 people carried out by The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) revealed that 52% of the public believe an outright ban on hitting children […]
Proposals to make it easier for child sex abuse victims to bring civil claims
Plans to make it easier and less traumatic for victims of child sexual abuse to bring historic claims through the civil courts have been unveiled by the government. Currently child sexual abuse claims must be brought within three years of the claimant turning 18 unless the court grants an extension. For this to happen the […]
Open consultation: Limitation law in child sexual abuse cases
This consultation paper seeks views on options for the reform of the law of limitation in child sexual abuse cases in England and Wales. Specifically, it considers the recommendation by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (‘the Inquiry’) on limitation law. It also examines the law of limitation in child sexual abuse cases in […]
The complexities associated with formalising kinship care arrangements: Legal solutions to promote children’s best interests
Children who are cared for by relatives other than their parents are often referred to as living in kinship care arrangements. The 2021 census found that there were 121,000 children in England and Wales living in some form of kinship care. Significantly more children live in a kinship care arrangement than are in the care […]
Changes to Family Procedure Rules encourage the use of non-Court dispute resolution
The media has recently reported that mediation is “revolutionising British business and Family Courts … in avoiding litigation and providing mutually agreeable solutions”. It is easy to see how this has come about with Court backlogs and the cost of living crisis, meaning that there is less money available for expensive litigation, and with legislation […]
The case for compulsory mediation in family law cases in Scotland: will it help ease the creaking system, or is it a step too far?
The issue of compulsory mediation is exercising legal minds on both sides of the Border and, as the appetite for change in Scotland increases, the matter of its feasibility or desirability becomes ever more relevant. Mediation is an assisted negotiation, where parties voluntarily attend a neutral venue with a third-party who facilitates communication between them. […]
