IVF and Jury Service

[theotherfossilsister]

Hello,

Sorry not been back here for a while, I tend to disappear sporadically as the whole infertility thing makes me a bit crazy.

We have reached the top of the list for treatment starting with my October period. It's been a long wait, and I have a low AMH.

I have just been called to Jury Service, High Court, not Sherrif's Court. There is a £1000 fine for non attendance. As IVF is seen as elective, and therefore in the same bracket as cosmetic surgery, apparently there is no protection in law.

What should I do? The egg collection and embryo transfer would fall bang in the middle, potentially.

Have you applied to postpone it, it says you can ask to postpone it to another date in the next 12 months with one of the reasons being a holiday, so I can't see how they can deny it for IVF

www.gov.uk/jury-service/delaying-or-being-excused-from-jury-service

@theotherfossilsister will you be able to make the first date? When I was called up for jury service at the high court on the first day they explain the case including the name of the accused, then they ask you if you have any reasons why you can't be on the jury. They take you off one at a time to explain your reason e.g. you know the accused but also other reasons. They let me off because I already had a week's holiday booked to visit my parents, so I'm sure they would let you off for something as important as fertility treatment!x

Have a look at this OP for Scotland

www.scotcourts.gov.uk/coming-to-court/jurors/excusal-from-jury-service

Maybe the clinic could write a letter.
I imagine they would allow you to defer.
Good luck with the treatment.

Please provide a supporting document as to why you are seeking excusal, some examples are: a doctor’s letter, holiday booking confirmation or a letter from your work.

To be honest I'd pay a £1000 fine, cheaper than a round of IVF! But it won't come to that.

Thank you so much all of you. I'm going to follow your advice.

And yes I can make the first date, although work might be a bit annoyed as it's the day I get back from annual leave. I'll go and take a consultant's letter. Annoyingly I can't get through to them on the phone number from the letter at all