Democrats Propose Bill to Codify Right to IVF
The Facts
US Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) introduced a bill on Thursday, called the Access to Family Building Act, to make access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other "assisted reproductive technology" a "statutory right."
If passed, the law would permit people across the country to retain all their genetic material used during fertility care and allow the Justice Department to take legal action against any state that tries to limit access to fertility treatments.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
After Republicans stripped women of their right to determine when they want to build families, it's more important than ever to protect their access to how they do it. Millions of Americans rely on IVF — one of the more affordable procedures — and other technologies to aid them in the pursuit of having children. If the GOP continues down its restrictive path, it'll eventually take even more control over women's bodies. Building families when and how you want must be defended.
Republican narrative
On top of the very obvious ethical concerns of IVF — such as abortion and the freezing of embryos — there are many other reasons for concern. First and foremost, prioritizing the use of and right to IVF has led scientists away from researching the underlying causes of infertility. Another secret Democrats probably want hidden is that a majority of women drop out of IVF treatment due to the psychological toll it takes on them. Instead of trying to overhaul biology, there must be work on repairing the natural systems that don't require risky experiments.
