Following a ruling by the state Supreme Court that embryos stored in a freezer should be considered children—a decision that led three fertility clinics in Alabama to temporarily suspend their services—the Republican-led legislature in Alabama passed measures on Thursday intended to protect the in vitro fertilization (IVF) sector from potential lawsuits.
The House passed a bill to shield IVF clinics from civil and criminal liability overwhelmingly with a 94-6 vote. The Senate followed suit with a vote of 34-0 on a similar measure, with one senator abstaining. The House and Senate must now vote on a unified bill before it becomes law.
