Wisconsin providers respond to the Supreme Court of Alabama’s decision on IVF
WMTV, Madison, Wisconsin – In vitro fertilization results in the birth of about 2% of all children in the United States. The Alabama Supreme Court decided this week that frozen embryos are children, which has implications for IVF going forward. IVF procedures have already been put on hold at many Alabama clinics in reaction to the decision.
H.R. 431, the Life at Conception Act, is being co-sponsored by over 100 members of Congress, including three Republicans from Wisconsin. The bill would nationalize the Supreme Court of Alabama’s decision.
Dr. Elizabeth Pritts, the head of the Wisconsin Fertility Institute, described it as “really scary.” “Off the hook, the phones have been ringing.”
The Alabama decision surprised Pritts.
“IVF gives families children and creates life.” Twenty percent of Americans are infertile, according to Pritts.
The Wisconsin Fertility Institute sees roughly 3,000 patients every month, according to Pritts.
Pritts admitted, “I’m pretty emotional about it.” “This is why I’m afraid to seek fertility treatment in the United States.”
However, Jeffrey Keenan, the president and medical director of the biggest embryo adoption organization in the US, expressed “mixed emotions” in response to the decision.
The National Embryo Donation Center facilitates the transfer of IVF surplus embryos to other parents who are having difficulty conceiving.
“We hold human embryos in the highest regard for their life and dignity,” stated Keenan.
However, treating embryos like children also increases the potential for legal repercussions for medical professionals in the event that IVF fails.”To expect to never have an accident, or a problem, or a difficulty is not realistic when you’re talking about something that’s microscopic,” Keenan said. Representatives Glenn Grothman, Scott Fitzgerald, and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin did not respond to repeated requests for comment regarding their support of this House bill. “It just doesn’t seem like a good idea to put people who are trying to help other people at risk of prosecution,” Grothman said.
