Georgia Right to Life Introduces Legislation to Protect the Mother and Child
by Staff
February 24, 2009
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA, (christiansunite.com) -- Georgia Right to Life today announced the filing of The Ethical Treatment of Human Embryos Act in the Georgia Senate-SB 169.It is apparent from the recent birth of octuplets to a southern California woman, that the fertility industry needs governmental oversight. This industry is one of the most lucrative medical fields and among the least regulated. In response to this need, Georgia State Senator Ralph Hudgens along with other co-sponsors in the Senate leadership have introduced legislation that will place limits on the creation and transfer of embryos produced by In vitro fertilization (IVF).
"This bill is written to help reduce the attendant harm that could come to the mother and her children through the creation and implantation of more embryos than is medically recommended by industry watchdog groups like the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology" says Daniel Becker, President of Georgia Right to Life.
"This bill would limit the number of embryos transferred in any given cycle to the same number that are fertilized, up to a maximum of three. This bill is similar to the same common-sense regulations passed in other countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy" said Becker.
Georgia Right to Life supports Sen. Hudgens in this legislation and wants to see strong protections in place to stop the dangerous practice of implanting more embryos than is medically recommended, so as to prevent the high risk of multiple gestations, premature births and babies with low birth weight for their gestational age.
Currently, the law requires that fertility clinics report their success rates to the Center for Disease Control (CDC.) By focusing on "success" the clinics are pitted against one another when marketing their services. "Due to a 'for profit' motive this can result in a serious compromise to the standard of care for the women and the children involved" says Becker.
"Now is the time to develop regulatory oversight that would protect our women and children and provide legal protection to embryos as living human beings and not as property," concludes Becker.
Georgia is the first state in the nation to file this legislation. However, in Britain they have similar legislation, passed in 2004, that protects the embryo and the mother from these harmful practices.
The language of the bill-SB 169 can be read at www.personhood.net/law/model-legislation/ethne-act.
