LANSING, Mich., Feb. 28, 2024 — House Dems have united to denounce threats against and confusion about access to in vitro fertilization (IVF). Yesterday, bills were introduced in both the Alabama Senate and House that aim to give legal protection to anyone who provides IVF in the state. This comes after the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision asserting that frozen embryos possess the same legal rights as children. The decision has caused confusion and anxiety for patients and providers, causing some IVF clinics to pause services.
As the Alabama Legislature works through the confusion and seeks to find solutions, Michigan Dems have made sure the rights of patients and medical care professionals are clear and protected. House Democrats stand united against any attack on reproductive autonomy and against politicians meddling in the decisions individuals make inside their bedrooms and their doctor’s offices.
“We need to ensure that fertility clinics in Michigan are not unjustly penalized,” said state Rep. Samantha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills). “This ruling jeopardizes the dreams of countless families who rely on IVF as their only path to parenthood. We should be making IVF treatments more easily accessible so that prospective parents who want to build a family, but can’t without medical assistance, can do so.”
IVF is a complex series of procedures that is sought out for a variety of reasons to help potential parents conceive a child. It’s often used as a treatment for infertility; for instance, when opposite-sex couples are unable to conceive after at least a year of trying. IVF is also used by same-sex couples to assist in conception and by prospective parents to prevent the transmission of genetic problems to a child.
“Alabama’s ruling threatens the very foundation of reproductive justice across the country,” said state Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing). “As someone who benefited from IVF treatments to bring an amazing child into this world, take it from me — we cannot allow this dangerous case to spread. Our state must remain a beacon of progress, championing reproductive freedom and scientific advancements.”
House Democrats stand united against any attack on reproductive autonomy — individuals know what’s best for their family, and politicians should not pretend to know better. Reproductive rights are human rights, and the government should not have a say in what anyone does with their bodies. Families across our nation deserve the right to pursue their dreams of parenthood without fear or hindrance.