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The sun shines through the awning of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Women's and Infant Center on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama.
CNN
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The University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System said in a statement to CNN that it is suspending in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment following the Alabama Supreme Court's ruling that frozen embryos are pediatric.
The decision makes UAB the first organization in the state to confirm a temporary suspension of care.
The announcement could be the beginning of what reproductive rights advocates and medical experts have been warning about for days. The high court's decision could have devastating consequences for Alabamians who undergo infertility treatments every year to start families, and could quickly have far-reaching and severe consequences. . Beyond state borders.
In an unprecedented ruling, the state Supreme Court said a fetus is a child, whether in the womb or outside the womb, and those who destroy it can be held liable for wrongful death. Not only is this decision likely to significantly increase the already expensive costs of infertility treatment, but many health care providers in the state are no longer offering infertility treatment for fear of being held liable for wrongful death. Reproductive rights advocates warn that they are likely to be discouraged from doing it at all.
UAB said it would suspend IVF treatment while it evaluates the court's decision.
“While we regret that this will impact patients' attempts to have a baby through IVF, we do not believe that patients and physicians may face criminal prosecution or punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatment. need to assess the possibility of doing so,” the statement said.
“We would like to reiterate that it is IVF treatments that are suspended. All work leading up to egg retrieval remains in place. Egg fertilization and embryo development are suspended.”
The Alabama Medical Association warned in a statement Wednesday that other health systems will likely soon follow suit.
“The significance of (the court's decision) has implications for the entire state of Alabama, and it will help protect children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and other babies at a time when fertility options are limited for those who want to start a family,” the association said in a statement. “The number is likely to decline.” That statement.
“For couples trying to conceive, IVF is often the only option,” the magazine added.
The state Supreme Court's decision announced Friday does not ban IVF, but it is the first time a U.S. court has said frozen embryos are human, and it has implications for the operation of Alabama's fertility industry. Critics have pointed out that this could have a negative impact. I warned you.
They argue that it could drive up liability costs and make infertility treatment prohibitive for many families. Health care providers may be deterred from performing infertility treatments for fear of being held responsible each time an embryo fails to result in a pregnancy. And that may mean parents have to pay for the lifetime storage of embryos that can never be disposed of, even if they no longer want children.
Alabama Supreme Court Justice Greg Cook warned of the potential consequences in the only full dissent to the decision.
“No reasonable health care provider would continue to provide services for the creation and maintenance of frozen embryos knowing that they would have to continue to maintain the frozen embryos indefinitely. “Otherwise, you risk penalties for alleged death law violations,” Cook wrote.
Critics have also expressed concern that the ruling will create a roadmap that groups and lawmakers across the country that have traditionally targeted infertility treatment can follow.
Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit organization that claims to work to advance “religious freedom and the sanctity of human life and the family,” is using the Alabama ruling as a precedent to protect abortion rights in Florida. He said the proposed amendment would take away that right. “The fetus' right to life is protected.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.