Legislation to provide protections for in vitro fertilization clinics in Louisiana advances favorably from House Civil Law and will go before the full House next week. Bill author, Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis said after a Supreme Court ruling in Alabama caused IVF clinics to close, she wanted to keep that from happening here.
“To create a civil and criminal immunity for providers and patients and clinics, hospitals if something happens to an embryo then you’re not liable,” said Davis.
The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that a frozen embryo is considered a child and if the embryo is destroyed its wrongful death. To avoid criminal charges, IVF clinics closed.
Davis said her bill only affects IVF and does not impact the state’s abortion ban.
“We are not touching the abortion statues. The abortion statutes in Louisiana remain untouched in regards to this. This is only regarding IVF it’s in Title 9 not Title 40, Title 40 is where abortion statutes are,” said David.
Because IVF laws in Louisiana were written in 1986, Davis said her legislation also updates previous regulations to the medical practice.
“Bringing it more up to speed with medical technology, the advancement in medicine, regarding IVF. And also addressing the civil and liability portion of it,” said Davis.
Davis refers to House Bill 833 as the IVF Modernization Bill.
