An Alabama hospital announced that it will cease to offer in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments by the end of this year because of concerns about potential lawsuits.
Mobile Infirmary revealed in a news release on Wednesday that it is discontinuing IVF services due to a recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling about the legal liability of destroying frozen embryos.
The hospital has temporarily restarted IVF treatments to assist families in Alabama and the Gulf Coast who have begun the process with hopes of having a child, but it will stop providing this service after December 31, 2024, due to litigation concerns. said.“However, in light of litigation concerns surrounding IVF therapy, Mobile Infirmary will no longer be able to offer this service to families after December 31, 2024.”
The state’s Supreme Court ruled in February that frozen embryos are considered children in the eyes of the law and can be subject to regulations concerning the wrongful death of a minor. This came after a lawsuit was filed by a group of IVF patients whose frozen embryos were destroyed by a patient in December 2020.
Mobile Infirmary was involved in multiple lawsuits from 2020 and faced further legal action after the court’s February ruling.
After the court’s decision, three hospitals halted offering IVF treatments the following week.
Some clinics resumed after the state’s Governor, Kay Ivey (R), signed new protections for providers and patients last month.
