Republicans in Alabama plan to introduce a bill aimed at safeguarding access to IVF treatment following a recent court ruling that raised concerns about its availability.
The ruling granted frozen embryos the same legal status as children, leading some clinics to halt services due to potential liabilities.
Expected to be presented in the Alabama Senate on Tuesday, the bill enjoys Republican majority support.
Senator Tim Melson, also a physician, expressed confidence in bipartisan cooperation to pass the bill, citing the necessity to protect families relying on IVF for conception.
Melson emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue after constituents voiced concerns about the jeopardy facing their only family-building option.
He stressed the need for legal clarity to prevent clinics from facing criminal charges for discarding unused embryos.
Although Alabama’s attorney general stated no intent to prosecute clinics, uncertainty persists among providers awaiting clearer legal guidance.
Melson anticipates swift progress for the bill, with introduction, committee review, and calendar placement scheduled within two to three weeks before eventual signing into law by the governor.
