Alabama lawmakers rush to shield IVF

The state's House and Senate passed bills to protect doctors, clinics and hospitals offering in vitro fertilization treatment

IVF fertilization
The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos have the same rights as children
(Image credit: Jay L. Clendenin / for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

What happened?

Alabama's House and Senate passed similar bills Thursday to legally shield doctors, clinics and hospitals offering in vitro fertilization treatment, after the state Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos have the same rights as children. The ruling effectively halted IVF treatment in the state.

Who said what?

Republicans are rushing through a "quick fix" for the "unintended consequences" of legally declaring that life begins at conception, said state Sen. Bobby Singleton (D). This legislation will at least "get the clinics open for the families" going through IVF, said state Rep. Terri Collins (R).

The commentary

Republicans are stomping on their "own party's triumph," Carmel Richardson said at The American Conservative. Alabama and "divine law" correctly hold that "if you make legal persons, you have to treat them as legal persons in all cases, not just when it is convenient" politically. "Providing legal rights to the unborn at any age of gestation is always going to be a legal mess," said Robin Marty at West Alabama Women's Center to The Washington Post.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

What next?

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) is expected to sign the final legislation.

Explore More
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.