New Georgia Law Allows Families To 'Adopt' Embryos

Main Category: Fertility
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Abortion
Article Date: 03 Jul 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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A Georgia law (HB 388) that took effect on Wednesday allows state residents to "adopt" embryos created for fertility treatments, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (Gould Sheinin, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/1). According to the AP/Cedartown Standard, the bill aims to prevent embryo donors from later asserting legal rights to children born from adopted embryos (Bluestein, AP/Cedartown Standard, 6/30). The bill's authors did not address whether an embryo is a person, and the legislation does not give embryos rights (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/1). However, religious conservatives have backed the law as an alternative use for surplus embryos originally created for fertility treatments. Opponents say the law ultimately could be used to restrict abortion rights (AP/Cedartown Standard, 6/30).

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