WASHINGTON — New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is pushing for a new bill that protects women's reproductive rights.
The legislation is called 'Access to Family Building Act' and it protects access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other reproductive services.
It comes after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are children and those who destroy them can be held liable for wrongful death.
“Last week, the Alabama Supreme Court issued a dangerous, first-of-its-kind ruling that strips away some of our most fundamental reproductive freedoms,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This ruling could have extreme implications nationwide - including in New York. It will make it harder for women to access infertility treatments, put doctors at risk of legal action, and establish a dangerous precedent that may be used by conservative courts to issue similar rulings in other states. I’m fighting to pass the Access to Family Building Act to firmly establish access to IVF and other fertility treatments as a federally protected right. Women deserve to start or grow their families without government interference, and I’m committed to making sure they can.”
Senator Gillibrand says she feels this ruling could discourage doctors from providing IVF treatments. because of fear of being held liable for a failed embryo transfer or pregnancy.
The Access to Family Building Act would help arrange for the right to IVF and similar treatments by preempting state and local laws that would restrict access to fertility treatments, and allow Department of Justice to challenge restrictive state or local laws.