Alabama embryo ruling may have devastating effect on cancer patients

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Alabama embryo ruling may have devastating effect on cancer patients

By Sabrina Malhi
February 25, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. EST

A cancer diagnosis often comes with a host of difficult decisions, including what to do about the impact of treatment on a person’s fertility. Many individuals grappling with this dual burden turn to in vitro fertilization (IVF) as a way to preserve their reproductive options. … That’s why cancer patients and oncologists are expressing shock and anxiety about the recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that frozen embryos are considered children under the law.

The ruling is already having a chilling effect on IVF clinics in the state. Worries are mounting that other states could adopt similar rulings that would impede fertility medicine for people, including many cancer patients, who say assisted reproductive technology might be their only way of having a family after treatments.

“We’re leaving a lot of young men and women to deal with the long-lasting effects of the cancer treatments, and some of those effects could be infertility and premature menopause,” said Deanna Gerber, a gynecologic oncologist at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center who is a triple-negative breast cancer survivor.

“It’s the responsibility of the oncologist to think about … not just treating the cancer, but to think about the long-term effects that these treatments can have on the patient’s life, and quality of life.”

{snip}

[mucifer]

1. I had not thought about that. It is a huge deal in pediatric oncology. Kids are surviving cancer

into adulthood most of the time these days. But, the cancer treatments can destroy their reproduction.

So kids do often have embryos preserved.

[Lonestarblue]

2. These people never think of the consequences. All they think about is what they want.

And, of course, God always tells them that what they want is somehow exactly what God wants. IVF will continue to be possible in blue states, but it may not be long before the other rabid red states pass their own laws. With every new law, Republicans are convincing young people especially to move out of their states or to never take jobs in their states. OB-GYNs are already leaving. Sadly but as usual the people who will be most hurt by Republican laws are the poor and low-wage earners who may not be able to afford to move. Red state America gets worse by the day.

[RandomNumbers]

3. You are being too nice. I think many of them actively

don't give a shit about the consequences, or even LIKE the consequences:

"God's will"

"God will bless the righteous"

[Turbineguy]

4. Republicans are a death cult.