Supervisor: Dr Catherine Conlon
Nationality: Irish
Working Title of PhD: A study of the sets of relations evolving between lesbian couples and their GP during the process of “de novo” family formation
Description of Research:
This research project aims to explore the experience of lesbian couples (two people who identify as women), who created a family of their own through pregnancy, (“de-novo” family) of the sets of relations evolving between themselves and their family doctor during this time - from making the decisions about how to achieve pregnancy, through their journey to, hopefully, having a baby.
This will be qualitative study, interviewing couples together, who have embarked on this journey and either have had a baby or stopped trying due to fertility issues or miscarriage.
I am a retired family doctor (GP) with many years of experience counselling and caring for lesbian couples who have embarked on creating a family of their own. I also have an interest in how patients and doctors interact – the doctor / patient relationship.
Combining these two interests has led me to develop my PhD topic.
As my background is medical rather than social science, I am being introduced a new area of learning, so planning this research has been challenging and stimulating.