“They are a human life. His bill goes against science and basic biology”, stated Wuchner.

House Bill 757 would declare that a fertilized human egg or embryo that is outside the human body would not be considered an unborn child.

By WKYT News Staff

Published: Feb. 28, 2024 at 6:03 AM

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – House Bill 757 would declare that a fertilized human egg or embryo that is outside the human body would not be considered an unborn child.

The bill was filed on Monday by Representative Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville.

“My bill asserts that women have the right to pursue IVF and that neither women nor the medical practitioners can be held liable for any civil or criminal activity for the disposal of the petri dish as a part of the process.” Rep. Grossberg said.

He said he is honored to know the three women who are suing the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office for the right to access IVF. While he’s been following that case, he said after seeing the Alabama ruling, the courts should not be the only method of recourse in order for women to access the right to reproductive freedom.

Nearly two weeks ago, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos created through IVF should be considered children.

Several Alabama fertility clinics have stopped IVF treatments due to the decision.

“The lawsuit I was referencing is these three women are taking on the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and one of the claims that was inserted against them is that no reasonable person would say that an embryo or petri dish is life.” Rep. Grossberg said, “Daniel Cameron’s office sued to have the case dismissed. Well, clearly, it’s a reasonable person’s belief if the Alabama Supreme Court believes that the embryos are life. More specifically, with the legislation, either it passes and makes the issue go away, or it doesn’t pass, which shows there’s resistance in the majority party into acknowledging that Petri dishes are not people with the same rights.”

On the other side, Addia Wuchner, with Kentucky Right to Life, is in opposition to this bill.

Wuchner said that life begins at conception.

“It goes against Kentucky law, which is already in law when life begins. It goes against biology, scientifically backed, and so it walks on the basis of all scientific facts of what we know today of when life begins.” Wuchner said.

She said she agreed with Alabama’s ruling and brought up two other bills filed that she said are other solutions.

“I think they are very compassionate, wise, prudent responses to two issues.”

Those bills are HB 700 and HB 467.

“There are solutions. Things that they may not have thought other than terminating the life of a child.” Wuchner said.

Another bill in the Senate was filed regarding IVF rights. Senate Bill 301 was filed by Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong

In a press release, she said, “The bill has a clear objective, to protect IVF providers, enabling them to continue their vital work.”