To shield IVF clinics and doctors from legal action and possible criminal prosecution, lawmakers in Alabama have approved a bill.
There was political ramifications for Republicans last month as the state's top court decided that frozen embryos had the same rights as children and that persons might be held accountable for destroying them. Following the verdict, at least three in vitro fertilization clinics paused procedures.
Clinics can resume services under the new law.Wednesday saw overwhelming bipartisan backing for the Alabama law. It passed 81-12 in the state House and 29-1 in the Senate.Republican Governor Kay Ivey signed it swiftly.
The safeguards protect IVF practitioners from lawsuits for "damage or death of an embryo" during treatment.Bill supporters anticipated this would allow IVF providers to resume services.
"The problem we are trying to solve right now is to get those families back on track to be moving forward as they try to have children," state senator IVF equipment makers can be sued for embryo damage. Drs have minimal legal protection.
The bill did not consider embryos children.Early Wednesday, Alabama Democratic House minority leader Anthony Daniels told AL.com that the proposal did not adequately address whether embryos outside the womb are children."Band-Aids cover stitches and surgery till then.
The Supreme Court of Alabama ruled on February 16 in wrongful death lawsuits filed by three couples whose frozen embryos were mistakenly destroyed at a clinic in 2020. The verdict was immediately criticized in the south and beyond.
The controversy has benefited President Joe Biden's campaign with eight months till the election.Pew reported last year that 42% of Americans had used or know someone who has done IVF.Middle-income Americans have 45% and high-income Americans 59%.