Pace University DigitalCommons@Pace Pace Law Faculty Publications School of Law 1-1-2006 The Modern Age of Informed Consent Barbara L. Atwell Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/lawfaculty Part of the Health Law and Policy Commons Recommended Citation Barbara L. Atwell, The Modern Age of Informed Consent, 40 U. Rich. L. Rev. 591 (2006), http://digitalcommons.pace.edu/lawfaculty/291/. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law at DigitalCommons@Pace. It has been accepted for inclusion in Pace Law Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Pace. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. THE MODERN AGE OF INFORMED CONSENT Barbara L. Atwell * Several years ago, Katherine, who at the time was a twenty- year-old Ivy League undergraduate, responded to an advertise- ment for egg donors. As a full-time college student, her financial resources were limited, and the promised $7,500 fee enticed her to respond. Katherine consented to the procedure despite the discom- fort involved and the numerous hormone injections that were re- q~ired.~She successfully donated nine eggs. Katherine subse- quently graduated from college and is now married with a successful career. She recently gave birth to her first child. She has stated repeatedly over the years that she regrets having do- nated her eggs. Katherine wonders whether there are other chil- dren who are biologically related to her and to her newborn child. She is also concerned about the long-term health impact of the hormone injections that were part of the egg donation pr~cedure.~ * Director, Health Law and Policy Program and Associate Professor of Law, Pace University School of Law; B.A., 1977, Smith College; J.D., 1983, Columbia University.