Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Signs Bill into Law Protecting IVF Patients and Providers
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has signed a new bill into law aimed at protecting in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients and providers from legal liability. The legislation provides civil and criminal immunity to providers and patients for the destruction or damage to embryos, but does not address the issue of personhood.
The new law comes after a state Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are considered human beings, causing three of the state’s IVF providers to pause some services. This decision led some families to seek treatment out of state.
While some experts believe that the new legislation does not provide sufficient legal protection for fertility clinics to resume services, many IVF patients express cautious relief and hope for their treatments to resume. However, concerns still remain about the potential impact of the court ruling on future cases.
Some clinics, like Alabama Fertility in Birmingham and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, are planning to resume IVF services following the new legislation. Others are awaiting further legal clarification before resuming services.
The Alabama Supreme Court ruling stemmed from lawsuits filed by parents who alleged that frozen embryos were destroyed at a fertility clinic. This sparked a national discussion on reproductive health freedom and IVF access.
The defendants in the case have filed an application to rehear the case, though legal experts are skeptical that the court will grant the request. As the legal battle continues, the new law aims to provide some level of protection for IVF patients and providers in Alabama.
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