States Advance 'Fetal Personhood' Legislation Amid Growing Controversy

Legislation granting legal rights to embryos and fetuses sparks outrage and legal challenges, with implications for IVF services and sex education.

Lawmakers in over a dozen states are pushing for 'fetal personhood' legislation, granting embryos and fetuses legal rights, with three states advancing such laws since February.
The Alabama Supreme Court's decision to recognize frozen embryos as 'extrauterine children' has sparked national outrage and halted IVF services, though a subsequent bill aims to protect IVF providers.
Fetal personhood laws could affect a wide range of legal areas, from criminalizing pregnancy losses to demanding child support for fetuses, raising concerns about increased criminalization of pregnant individuals.
The movement to incorporate fetal development and personhood into sex education curricula is gaining momentum, with states like North Dakota mandating inclusion of materials like the 'Baby Olivia' animation.
Critics argue that the push for fetal personhood and changes to sex education represent a broader strategy to limit reproductive rights and redefine constitutional interpretations of personhood.