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Mother charged over IVF consent

Mother charged over IVF consent

A WA mother has faced court accused of forging her estranged husband's signature to convince a fertility clinic to allow her to use a stored embryo to get pregnant.

Magistrate Stephen Wilson yesterday refused an application to suppress the name of Megan Jane Hooper, 41, who is charged with uttering a forged record with intent to defraud over the allegations. Her lawyer told the court the allegations related to forgery which enabled his client to conceive a child.

Police allege Ms Hooper forged her husband's signature on a consent form in 2011, which gave her access to a frozen embryo.

It was one of several created in 2007 and the couple had a child in 2009 after IVF treatment.

Police claim that in late 2010, the woman decided she wanted a second child but her husband was adamant he did not.

It is believed the couple separated but the woman allegedly went ahead with her desire to have another child using one of the frozen embryos.

Ms Hooper, who was not required to plead to the charge yesterday, will face court again next month.