As scientists, reproductive endocrinologists and clinicians, who have devoted our lives to helping people navigate the complexities of reproductive healthcare and build families, we are extremely disappointed in the recent Alabama Supreme Court decision. Frozen embryos created for in vitro fertilization (IVF) now have the same legal rights as children in the state of Alabama. This ruling contradicts science and, as we’ve already seen, will have a devastating impact on fertility treatments and reproductive rights for the citizens of Alabama. It not only misrepresents the complexities of reproductive technology but also threatens to undermine the rights of patients and the medical ethics that are fundamental to our profession.
First and foremost, as medical professionals, we are deeply troubled by the intrusion of politics into the relationship between doctor and patient. Access to healthcare is our North Star at Kindbody and evidence-based, patient-centered care is the foundation on which our company was built. Infertility is a disease that affects one in six people worldwide. As doctors, we are acutely aware of the emotional and financial toll infertility takes on our patients. For many of our patients, embryos represent the hope of realizing their dream of starting or expanding their families. The Alabama Supreme Court ruling undermines this hope by subjecting embryos to legal scrutiny and forcing patients to live with the devastating prospect of not having the ability to make decisions about their reproductive futures. It will restrict access to and drive up costs of essential care that is needed by many, and is already inaccessible to most. The Supreme Court decision directly contradicts the scientific advancements that provide today the best chance of success and moreover will restrict access to care for people in need.
This ruling must not set new precedent and block the many hopeful families, many of whom we’re honored to serve every day in our national clinics, in their path to creating a family. In fact, this need and demand is rising rapidly: We anticipate that IVF will continue its double digit annual growth where a decade ago 1 in 8 couples struggled with infertility and today, we see as many as 1 in 6 confront fertility challenges. There is a growing and critical need to help these patients build their families and any restriction of access to support them from healthcare professionals should be vigorously blocked.
We stand with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, and believe the choice to build a family is a fundamental right for all Americans, regardless of where they live. The path to parenthood is a personal decision that should be made by families, not politicians. We stand in solidarity with anyone who wishes to build the family of their dreams. As we consider and plan for the impacts of this new law, Kindbody’s national network of clinics will continue to be accessible to everyone who needs care, and our doctors will do what is necessary to support our patients regardless of where they live in the U.S. We have never been more committed to making fertility and family-building care accessible for all.
Signed,
Dr. Angeline Beltsos, Chief Executive Physician
Jason Barritt PhD, Chief Scientific Officer & HCLD
Dr. Lynn Westphal, Lead CMO, Medicine & Research
Dr. Kristin Bendikson, CMO, Clinical Development
Dr. Amber Cooper, CMO, Genomics & Lab Operations
Dr. Roohi Jeelani, CMO and Reproductive Endocrinologist
Stay up to date on the Alabama ruling on our Alabama Updates Page.
