Nation’s top health officials to visit Alabama in wake of IVF decision
Last updated: February 27, 2024, 02:00 IST
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The Biden administration is sending the nation’s top health official to Alabama to discuss with patients and doctors about a controversial court decision affecting in vitro fertilization treatments in the state.
WASHINGTON: The Biden administration is sending the nation’s top health official to Alabama to discuss with patients and doctors about a controversial court decision affecting in vitro fertilization treatments in the state.
The decision by the Republican-controlled Alabama Supreme Court has unexpectedly thrust the issue of IVF into the presidential campaign conversation just ahead of Super Tuesday voting on March 5.
The visit by Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra comes just days after former President Donald Trump vowed to protect access to reproductive care.
President Joe Biden and his aides have been quick to embrace last week’s decision — which says frozen embryos can be considered children under state law and threatens the future of fertility care in the state — as evidence. In that Republicans have gone too far with restricting reproduction. Some Republicans also said they are concerned by the decision.
Biden called the decision “outrageous” in a statement. Vice President Kamala Harris described the decision as a symbol of “irony”, as it could hamper families’ ability to have children.
Many clinics have stopped IVF treatment since the court’s decision. Some state lawmakers say they are struggling to fix it.
Trump, who appointed anti-abortion judges to the U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts across the country, strongly protested against the decision on his social media platforms on Friday, writing, “We want to make it easier for moms and dads.” Not too hard, kids!”
During his visit to Alabama, Becerra will meet with patients and doctors who have been affected by Tuesday’s state court decision.
“The decision will have heartbreaking consequences for women and their families in Alabama,” Becerra said in a social media post last week reacting to the decision.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – The Associated Press)