Louisiana Bill Safeguarding IVF Providers Heads to Governor’s Desk

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A bill that protects in vitro fertilization providers from criminal charges and lawsuits has received bipartisan approval from Louisiana lawmakers and now heads to the desk of Republican Gov. Jeff Landry for final signature.

The measure approved Wednesday was formed to avoid the situation that occurred in Alabama last year when the state’s Supreme Court ruled Frozen embryos may be regarded as children under state legislation. Following this decision, certain IVF procedures—which assist individuals dealing with fertility issues in achieving pregnancy—were temporarily halted until Alabama’s governor enacted new measures. law that protects Protect them from prosecution for "damage to or death of an embryo" occurring during treatment.

“This is a pro-family, pro-life and pro-parent bill,” state Rep. Paula Davis, a Republican, said of the Louisiana bill during debate in the House earlier this week. “It aligns our laws with medical science and ensures that no one has to cross state lines to build a family."

The bill says doctors, health care providers, hospitals and clinics have legal protection when it comes to IVF, unless there is “criminal negligence” or “general criminal intent.” It also updates language to the state’s current IVF law, which was written in 1986.

It remains unclear whether Landry intends to sign the bill into law.

Louisiana is the most recent state to initiate actions regarding this issue. safeguard access to IVF treatments.