Could this amendment affect access to assisted reproductive technology and stem cell research?
For couples struggling with infertility, multiple eggs are fertilized in lab environments to increase the likelihood of assisted implantation and pregnancy. Often, extra fertilized eggs remain after a couple becomes pregnant, and it is a patient’s decision to retain, donate or dispose of those fertilized eggs. This amendment calls into question the actual legal status of the remaining fertilized eggs. Research into treatments for many diseases including Type 1 Diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s relies partly on the use of cells harvested from lab-cultivated fertilized eggs, many of which were donated after fertility treatments.
