US states advance legislation granting rights to embryos and fetuses amid reproductive rights debate
In the aftermath of the Alabaman IVF ruling fallout, states across the US, including Iowa, Kentucky, and Utah, are moving forward with legislation that grants legal rights to embryos and fetuses, sparking concern among advocates over the impact on IVF treatments and contraception rights.
States across the U.S. are forging ahead with legislation aimed at granting legal rights to embryos and fetuses, a movement gaining momentum in the wake of the Alabaman IVF ruling fallout. Iowa, Kentucky, and Utah have introduced bills to criminalize the harm or death of an “unborn person,” with Iowa’s definition extending from fertilization to birth. These legislative efforts have sparked nationwide concern over their implications on IVF treatments and contraception rights, according to Dana Sussman from Pregnancy Justice. This push for “fetal personhood” signifies a broader national debate on reproductive rights and the legal recognition of fetuses and embryos.
In a related development, Arizona State Senator Eva Burch revealed her decision to undergo an abortion due to a nonviable pregnancy. Burch’s announcement on the Arizona Senate floor was a protest against the state’s stringent abortion laws, highlighting the barriers and invasive processes individuals face when seeking abortion care. The senator’s personal account underscores the ongoing struggles for reproductive rights in Arizona and across states with restrictive abortion regulations, which have intensified following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Meanwhile, Michigan is poised to decriminalize surrogacy contracts, a significant departure from its current stance, which penalizes compensated surrogacy arrangements. The proposed legal shift, supported by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, aims to simplify the process for establishing legal parentage in cases involving surrogates. This legislation is part of a broader initiative to protect assisted reproductive technologies like IVF, echoing calls for legal clarity in reproductive matters. Advocates argue that the new bills will facilitate diverse family structures and provide clarity and security for individuals navigating surrogacy and fertility treatments.
