Thank you.
As a parent of children conceived through assisted reproductive technologies who believes strongly in the legislation and all of the good that was to come of it, I am devastated to have been a witness to what should have been an organization that, according to the board values, put the principles and the public interest above all others in managing its programs, responsibilities, and activities.
The three of us have several suggestions as to how to improve the process for the future. There are four of them, and I will very quickly state them.
Number one: provide the president of the agency with a mentor and proper oversight.
Number two: provide all board members with proper training that is contentful and consistent so they understand their legal obligations and are properly empowered to do their job.
Number three: make sure that board members have access to independent legal advice so that they can access it as needed. The agency had legal advice, the board members did not.
And number four: require board members to sign off on annual, perhaps even quarterly, budgets.