The Alabama Supreme Court officially classified frozen embryos as “children” under state law in a 7-2 ruling on February 16th, 2024. The decision came soon after three couples filed a lawsuit against a fertility clinic when a patient wandered into the clinic’s cryogenic nursery, destroying multiple stored embryos. Many Supreme Courts in America have too much of a grasp on the bodily autonomy of women in the U.S, something that must be stopped urgently.
IVF is defined as In-Vitro-Fertilization, a medical procedure where an egg is fertilized by sperm in a test tube or elsewhere outside the body. The Supreme Courts in America are attacking these fundamental practices, therefore attacking the reproductive rights of every woman in America. Since June of 2022, the Supreme Courts have been adamant about playing the role of “America’s Doctors”. For example, the overturning of Roe V. Wade has caused 21 states to have either restrictive policies or full bans on abortion, a decision that only a woman should have the say in.
According to the NIH, embryos also play a huge role in genetic studies. Embryo research can help scientists find genetic therapies, treatments, and even transplant methods with the consent of the couple they belong to.
This unconstitutional ruling will affect thousands of families like those of Christina M., a woman in Ohio who froze her embryo’s before undergoing chemotherapy. After successfully beating cancer, she went through with a Frozen Embryo Transfer, stating “This grant means more to me than you’ll ever know.” For many women undergoing chemotherapy, IVF is their only hope for starting a family, a right that anybody should have without the input of the Supreme Court.
There are also going to be inevitable accidents during laboratory experiments and IVF treatment due to the complexity of treatment. After a certain amount of time, clinics are also given permission to thaw out and dispose of the embryos. Would this now be considered murder of a child? Because of these unclear rules, three out of seven IVF Clinics in Alabama have indefinitely paused their services, causing distress to women undergoing IVF treatment. Not only is there an extreme emotional burden from this, but there is now also a financial burden. One round of IVF costs $15,000 – $30,000 on average, and many families cannot afford to pay for another round due to the incomplete transfers from closures.
Although the ruling only takes effect in Alabama, it will soon represent a domino effect throughout America. Unless something is done about the Supreme Court’s illogical practices, the effects of these rulings will only get worse. You can contact your local politicians, attend peaceful protests, and speak out for women’s reproductive rights through social media. You can help American society change for the better, turning around to a brighter future. We will not be forced to go backward after working so hard to get where we are.
