Understanding Life at Conception, IVF, Frozen Embryos and the Alabama Bill
Two bills in the House and Senate have proposed laws to reinstate IVF services in the state of Alabama. This will shield providers and patients from liability if embryos are damaged or destroyed in a fertility clinic’s cryogenic lab. Governor Kay Ivey is expected to sign at least one bill as soon as it lands on her desk (apnews).
This follows the recent IVF ruling on February 16, 2024, by Alabama’s Supreme Court, which sparked quite a lot of controversy. Since then, several fertility clinics in the “sweet home” state have paused services, so legislation is moving simultaneously to allow the bill to be passed within five legislative days.
What is IVF?
In vitro fertilization, as medically described by Mayo Clinic, is a series of procedures that can lead to pregnancy. It’s a treatment for infertility, where mature eggs are collected from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then, a procedure is performed to place one or more fertilized eggs, called embryos, into the uterus. One complete cycle can take two to three weeks, often split into different parts.
What was the Alabama IVF Ruling?
According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, three couples that had been undergoing the procedures of IVF brought a lawsuit against a fertility clinic for negligence as a patient in December of 2020 entered the cryogenic lab where the embryos were being stored and accidentally dropped them, causing them to be destroyed.
Of course, this brought into question as to whether those embryos were considered minors (children), in which case the clinic was being pulled into a lawsuit for the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. At a trial court, this case was overturned. Yet, these couples went to the Supreme Court of Alabama, which stated the Wrongful Death of a Minor did apply to embryos, even those that had not been implanted in the uterus (CNN).
Alabama has been a pro-life state since they signed the Alabama Life Protection Act on May 15, 2019. Since that time, with the overturning of Roe vs. Wade in June of 2022, it was only a matter of time before the issue of IVF would come into question and be the next battle for life.
With the two bills set to pass as early as this week, this could open back up IVF clinics in Alabama, providing services to the families seeking these treatments.
The Ethical Concerns Surrounding IVF
This is a tender topic as many couples have chosen to conceive through the methods of IVF due to struggles with infertility. According to the National Institute of Health, as many as 10% of all children could likely be conceived through IVF in many parts of the world in the near future, based on 2022 statistics.
This IVF ruling and current bills to reinstate services have caused a growing concern and some rather heated debate among Christians as well. According to Focus on the Family, “Some believe it’s ethically acceptable, while others consider it to be outside of God’s plan for procreation.”
So, while we always must look for answers in God’s Word on these matters, the most perplexing part may be that the Bible doesn’t give clear guidelines here. This is where we must rely on the Holy Spirit and be led by love.
The truth is that God values every human life and has a specific plan and purpose for each birth story. Psalm 127:3-4 reminds us that children are a gift and heritage from the Lord. So, while technological advancements may have allowed scientists to step in and help infertile couples reach their goals of becoming a family, we must rely on the fact that God’s will and timing will always prevail.
Let’s pray:
Father, we pray for Your hand to be over this situation and to console the many families affected by these court rulings. We ask that You be over the judges and lawmakers, bringing forth justice and preserving the sanctity of life, and that Your will be done. We ask that you soften our hearts as your faithful followers and react to this matter with love and compassion. We ask this in Your holy name. Amen.
Photo Courtesy: ©Getty Images/Elijah Nouvelage / Stringer/©Getty Images/Carlos Duarte
Video Credit: PBS News Hour via YouTube
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