For nearly five decades, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have helped millions of families worldwide, with more than 10 million children born through these methods. While most families experience positive outcomes within standard medical care, rare mistakes or misconduct can cause devastating consequences for all involved. The upcoming lecture, "Assisted Reproductive Technologies: The Miracles and Mishaps of Modern Family Formation", presented by Judith Daar, Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold Dean and Professor of Law, Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University, will explore how these cases challenge existing legal and medical frameworks, forcing society to reconsider long-held norms around reproduction This event, the 2025 Victor E. Schwartz Lecture in Tort Law, will be held at 12:15 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in Room 160 of the College of Law (2925 Campus Green Drive). CLE: 1 hour of general CLE has been approved for OH and KY.
For nearly 50 years, family formation has included the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) - a basket of medical techniques aimed at achieving pregnancy by means other than sexual intercourse. Worldwide, over 10 million children have been born via ART and its usage climbs every year. In the main, families formed with medical assistance experience a positive pathway to parenthood within the standard of care attendant to the treatment protocol. In rare but impactful instances, mishaps or malfeasance occurs, wreaking havoc on patients, partners, physicians, third-party collaborators and other stakeholders in these high-stakes arrangements. The resulting devastation poses unique challenges to our legal and medical structures, compelling us to rethink established norms and definitions surrounding the products and processes surrounding human reproduction.
