Alabama Lawmakers Develop Plan to Protect IVF After Court Rules Embryos Are Children

lawmakers propose acting to protect in vitro fertilization (IVF) services in Alabama State Supreme Court rules frozen embryos are children under state law, allowing couples to file wrongful death suits against clinics Alabama Senate and House Democrats propose legislation to prevent fertilized eggs from being considered children until implanted in uterus Republicans also working on plan to safeguard IVF industry from ruling, says House Speaker Republicans helped create situation, says Senate Minority Leader Donald Trump urges Alabama Republicans to protect IVF services

Washington: Lawmakers in Alabama are developing plans to protect in vitro fertilization (IVF) services in the state after a recent court ruling that could potentially see embryos being legally recognised as children.

The state Supreme Court ruled last week that three couples could pursue wrongful death claims after their frozen embryos were destroyed in a mishap at a storage facility.

The judges ruled that the state's constitution recognised the "rights of the unborn child" and that the embryos constituted as "children" under the Wrongful Death Act.

In the wake of the ruling, several IVF providers paused their services, leaving would-be parents in limbo.

"At the end of the day, the Republican Party has to be responsible for what they have done," said Alabama Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, a Democrat.

His party has proposed legislation that would seek to prevent a fertilized egg from being recognised as a human life or an unborn child under state laws until it is implanted in a woman's uterus.

Meanwhile, Republican state Sen. Tim Melson, who is also a doctor, is working on a separate proposal that would seek to clarify that a fertilized egg is a "potential life" and not a human life until it is implanted.

"I'm just trying to come up with a solution for the IVF industry and protect the doctors and still make it available for people who have fertility issues that need to be addressed because they want to have a family," Melson said.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said the state wanted to foster a culture of life that included "couples hoping and praying to be parents who utilise IVF".

But the situation has prompted outrage and shock, with some Alabama residents and medical professionals travelling out of state to continue their IVF treatments.

Reproductive rights protests from the age of Roe (1973) up until now