14-Apr-03 Second Baby for Diane Blood

Diane Blood, the British woman who made legal history by fighting to have a baby by being inseminated with her late husband's sperm, has given birth to a second baby boy.  The sperm was taken from her husband, when he was dying several years ago, from bacterial meningitis. 

Under UK law, Mrs Blood was not allowed to be inseminated with his sperm in the UK however, she was allowed to take the sperm abroad to undergo treatment.  Mrs Blood who gave birth to her first son, Liam, after receiving treatment at a Belgian Hospital three years ago, travelled back to the same the hospital for further treatment that has resulted in the birth of her second son, Joel.

Under existing legislation in the UK, her husband's name is not permitted to appear on the children's birth certificates.  Mrs Blood's lawyers issued a challenge to the birth registration rules under the Human Rights Act.  In March 2003, seven months after the birth, the High Court recognized her late husband as the legal father of her two sons.  A Private Members' Bill was due for a second reading at the end of March, to change the law so that it would allow his name to be recorded on their birth certificates.

'Second Baby For Diane Blood', Bionews@lists.progress.org.uk  (Issue 167, week 15/07/02-21/07/02)
Blood claims IVF paternity victory http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2807707.stm