The Alabama Supreme Court has declared that frozen embryos are legally children.
What is the ruling and how did this happen?
The three couples whose embryos were destroyed then sued the fertility clinic for wrongful death of a minor.
On February 16, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos do legally count as children.
What does this mean for IVF?
In effect, this would make IVF as it is currently practiced pretty much impossible.
I went through 12 days of [hormone] shots preparing for the retrieval.
We did the retrieval and we ended up with seven embryos.
Five of those matured.
Three were able to be tested for genetic testing.
Of those three, one had aeuploid genetic makeup.
One would not have survived had we implanted that embryo.
And one was inconclusive.
They decided to go ahead with the transfer, resulting in her one-year-old son.
Does this mean providers, or even patients, could be charged with a crime?
In addition, the rulings broader implications have patients and doctors rightfully worried and confused.
So what does this mean for people who already have frozen embryos stored in Alabama?
What does this mean for our frozen embryo?
Do we have the option to retest this?
What does this look like?
At the moment, all that Ainsworth can offer is her best professional guess.
Most likely they can, says Ainsworth.
Are people required to bring their embryos to term?
The patients or the clinics?
Is the Alabama legislature doing anything about it?
The purpose of this bill is to protect IVF in the state.
But what happens in the case of a failed embryo transfer?
What does this mean for other reproductive health issues?
What about sperm and egg donation?
Are we likely to see similar rulings or laws in other states?
Particularly ones that have strict abortion bans in place?
This isnt the first time Alabama has created legal status for embryos and fetuses.
What does this have to do with the antiabortion movement?
How are Alabama residents and IVF patients feeling right now?
And she was sharing that shes fearful: Why did she move her embryos?
Because what comes next?
You have no control over it.
Now its in a state that has just deemed that it has rights beyond your control.
Many parents who conceived through IVF have begun sharing their stories online.
My daughter exists because of IVF and she is the joy of my life.
I cannot imagine the heartbreak for parents in Alabama due to Republican judges.
