The ruling by Alabama’s Republican Supreme Court that frozen embryos should be considered children has put IVF treatments in jeopardy, leaving clinics uncertain as to their legal ability to store and thaw embryos. This uncertainty has made clinics wary about offering IVF services.
Former President Trump offered his thoughts on IVF treatment Friday through his Truth Social app. In it he claimed that like “an overwhelming majority of Americans and Republicans and Conservatives”, he strongly supports IVF treatments.
Embryos Are Human Beings
Given that human beings have come into existence due to the fertilized eggs of other human beings, it would seem absurd to claim that fertilized eggs do not exhibit lifelike qualities like metabolism, growth and movement just like any multicellular organism does.
Additionally, embryonic structure gives it an inherent tendency toward becoming human as it develops from fertilization onwards, evidenced by events happening as early as its first hours and days post fertilization.
Samuel and Maureen Condic, brother-sister duo and trained philosopher and neurobiologist respectively, provide compelling arguments in a book they wrote together arguing for human embryos being human beings who deserve respect similar to any other living individual. If this holds true then embryos cannot be treated like mere rocks and must be given due consideration when being considered in decisions regarding reproduction and their disposal.
Embryos Are Precious
IVF (in vitro fertilization) is a multi-month process to assist couples and individuals struggling with infertility. The process involves retrieving eggs from a woman’s ovaries and manually mixing them with sperm in a lab for fertilization; once fertilized, these embryos are implanted into her uterus as an implantable egg or embryo. IVF may also involve gestational carriers who carry pregnancy for a biological parent or couple undergoing IVF.
Embryos are treasures that hold the potential to become human lives, which is why infertile couples may explore various other fertility treatments before IVF; such as taking fertility drugs and IUI or even transferring an embryo onto a surrogate.
Embryos are of immense medical research value. To this end, many parents who have fertilized embryos donate them despite the risk of having them terminated and cause heartbreak for prospective parents. Storing them frozen costs money while their viability may reduce over time due to defrosting.
Embryos Are Children
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a months-long process in which eggs from one woman are combined with sperm from another outside her body to create a viable embryo, which will then be implanted into her uterus and lead to successful pregnancies. IVF is often an attractive solution for couples struggling to become pregnant naturally or who have had failed attempts at conception.
Former President Trump spoke out on Friday regarding IVF and an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that endangered fertility treatments, urging state legislature to send “the right message” and protect IVF treatments.
This ruling established that frozen embryos have the same legal standing as “born” children, potentially opening fertility clinics up to wrongful death lawsuits and potentially forcing them to raise prices or stop treating people altogether, according to experts. Furthermore, this may prevent some from affording procedures while insurers could refuse coverage altogether.
IVF’s Are a Chance for a Baby
In-vitro fertilization allows women who would otherwise be unable to become parents – such as those unable to carry to term or same-sex couples – to become mothers through infertility treatments. Furthermore, this process increases her chance of conception on her first or second attempt while decreasing risks such as preterm delivery or low birthweight infants.
The Alabama Supreme Court ruling has invigorated abortion-rights supporters and many more moderate Republicans are worried their party could suffer electorally if their candidates seem too extreme on reproductive issues. Senate Republican Campaign Committee Leaders issued a memo Friday instructing candidates to “clearly and concisely reject efforts by government to restrict IVF”.
Nikki Haley initially remained silent on IVF discussion, telling NBC News she sees human embryos, the initial stage after fertilization, as “babies”. On Friday however, Haley made clear her opposition by tweeting out a call for legislation in Alabama to protect “availability of IVF”.
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