Senators here in the Peach State are trying to make it even harder for women battling infertility to have children. SB 169 would:
This is going to make fertility treatments a burden for infertile women in Georgia. Treatments already are expensive enough, and with no legislation regarding insurance companies, there is hardly any coverage for diagnosis and treatment of infertility. Banning the freezing of embryos means that women will have to go through a fresh cycle each time they go through treatment, which is three times the cost of frozen embryo transfers. The number of eggs fertilized, and the number of embryos transferred and frozen should be decided by the couple and their doctor, NOT a group of politicians.
The bill was presented to the Health and Human Services Committee today and, if I had known earlier, I would have headed over to the State Capitol after my appointment at Emory. It was put into a study committee, and there’s no telling how long it will be there before put to a vote. I called my state senator today, who happens to be on the Health and Human Services Committee, and his secretary basically told me that he already knows how this will affect women in Georgia and that my opinion isn’t needed. Really? Because the last time I checked, he still worked for the residents of my county and I, as a taxpayer, still had the right to talk to my state legislators. I always thought it was hard to get a hold of legislators as a reporter, but it’s even more difficult to as a citizen. I guess they don’t work for us after all.
For those of you who live in Georgia, please join with me in contacting the senators on the Health and Human Services Committee to let them know how absolutely awful this legislation is and how it could very well lead to the end of fertility treatments in our state. And, Georgia’s not the only one considering such legislation. It’s coming up in Missouri, too. It looks like Georgia residents may have to start crossing the border to have their fertility treatments done in other states.
That stinks! I agree that there should be some control, but some of these things are a little risky. Only 2-3 eggs fertilized?!
I heard about this and it’s awful. Obviously the law was drafted by people who have no idea about infertility treatments but who have heard about the octomom and decided that we are all as crazy as she is. I did hear that Resolve said that the bill was tabled pending further review because it presented more complications than originally though (or something like that). Gee, ya think? I hope it never rears it’s ugly head again. We have enough to worry about trying to get pregnant without having to worry about the government making it harder.
OMG that sucks! I hope you find some good people to go along with you. I agree with myrtle, these people must have no idea about the subject.
I know I’m not speaking from first hand knowledge, but I do agree that the number of embroys needs to be limited. What’s the magic number? I have no idea, but I feel like implanting 6, 8 or more embroys is unethical and irresponsible.