The University of Alabama at Birmingham has paused IVF treatments as it examines a ruling by the state's Supreme Court which determined that frozen embryos should be considered children.
"We are saddened that this will impact our patients' attempt to have a baby through IVF," Savannah Koplon, a spokesperson for the university, said in an email. "We must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments."
The university's decision shows the chilling effect that the recent ruling could have on fertility treatment as reproductive rights come under threat in parts of the U.S. The Alabama Supreme Court ruling could leave those who destroy frozen embryos liable for wrongful death.
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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday that the Alabama ruling "is exactly the type of chaos that we expected when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and paved the way for politicians to dictate some of the most personal decisions families can make." She added that President Joe Biden will fight to protect access for reproductive health.
The global fertility market is growing at a steady clip and is expected to balloon to an $84 billion annual business by 2028, according to market research firm Imarc.
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The surge in demand for expensive fertility treatments, which can cost US patients upwards of $10,000, has been accompanied by missteps in the industry. A Bloomberg News
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"The potential implications of this ruling are wide ranging and will create a lot of confusion and concern for those seeking fertility treatment, as well as providers," said
