Once in a while, something in the news fires me up. I remain centrist on most issues, trying to find common ground right and left, but occasionally, something moves me out of the middle.
Reading that the Alabama Supreme Court recently ruled that embryos stored for in vitro fertilization treatments are now considered children is one of those things.
The Associated Press reports, “Unborn children are ‘children’ … without exception based on developmental stage, physical location, or any other ancillary characteristics,” Justice Jay Mitchell wrote in the majority ruling Friday.” In short, doctors, labs, technicians, and caregivers can be sued if a frozen embryo is accidentally destroyed.
If you or anyone you love has ever faced infertility issues, disclaimer: I have not, but for people I love who have, this ruling is several ticks past nonsensical. It will decrease access to in vitro fertilization in Alabama and set a dangerous precedent nationally. It’s about all anyone needs, particularly couples struggling with infertility.
For those unlucky enough, waiting for a natural pregnancy that never arrives is one of life’s cruel tricks. The opportunity to have a baby through the in vitro process is almost a miracle. So, why would the Alabama Supreme Court members think they had more heart involved than two anxious people who want to be parents by any means possible?
In vitro fertilization is not an option that one might consider casually. It is costly. Forbes Magazine catalogs for “a single IVF cycle — defined as ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and embryo transfer — can range from $15,000 to $30,000.”
Those costs do not cover the other costs involved: the hormonal treatments a hopeful mother must receive to prepare her body for an in vitro pregnancy and the anxiety of banking your life savings on a single round of IVF and then waiting to see if it takes hold.
When you consider the emotional, health, and financial expenses, can you imagine that anyone would carelessly treat an embryo?
Think of the existential questions facing prospective parents with embryos harvested and sitting in a freezer. Think of the angst of what to do with those embryos.
Then think that a panel of judges got involved, mandating what is already a crisis for some. To me, this decision defies common sense and matters of the heart. I am saying it is heartless to load one more worry on people who are paying a heavy price for infertility.
Wondering what could be going through the minds of the Alabama Supreme Court justices, I had to look and see the gender makeup of those justices to see who would make such an invasive and ridiculous decision. Predictably, the nine-member court is composed of mostly men — seven men to two women.
Alabama is a state where abortion is already illegal. To me, decisions like this can be considered the next frontier of reproductive control by the few over the many, which, ironically, in this case, could punish people who are actually trying to have a baby.
I am sure there isn’t much more anxiety you can push on a couple considering IVF than no baby.
But, the state of Alabama found a new way to anguish them by invading their privacy, denying their rights to start a family, and making the assumption that those prospective parents don’t already feel the weight of those embryonic souls.
