The University of Alabama in the USA suspended its in vitro fertilization services after the court’s decision to accept the embryos as children. The decision was met with great reaction in the region where more than 97 thousand in vitro fertilization babies are born annually. According to the court’s decision, the destruction of an embryo and the destruction of a child mean the same thing…
IT WAS DECIDED THAT DESTROYING THE EMBRYO MEANS THE SAME AS DESTROYING A CHILD.
In vitro fertilization treatment allows doctors to test embryos for genetic abnormalities and implant only healthy ones.
However, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization are considered children under state law; This means people could theoretically be sued for destroying an embryo.
It costs between $350 and $1,000 a year to store frozen embryos.
Legal experts worry the ruling could pave the way for tougher abortion restrictions in the future; for example, penalties could be imposed on women who perform abortions.
It is estimated that fewer babies will be born as fertility options become limited for those who want to have a family after the decision.
More than 97,000 babies were born in the United States in 2021 using assisted reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilization. Worldwide, more than 500,000 births occur annually using in vitro fertilization.
AN OBJECT WAS RECEIVED TO THE DECISION
The Alabama Medical Association on Wednesday called on the Alabama Supreme Court to reconsider or suspend its decision so residents can continue access to in vitro fertilization.
“The decision forces UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham), the largest healthcare system in the State of Alabama, to stop providing in vitro fertilization services to Alabama couples,” the Union said in a statement. “Others will likely follow suit, leaving little or no alternatives for reproductive assistance,” he said.
