Some fear pro-life bill could make in vitro fertilization a crime

Jamie Pursley recalls the best day of her life. It’s the day she became a mom to a happy boy, now 3 years old, thanks to in vitro fertilization.

"I appreciate it every single day," Pursley said.

She's now concerned the one in eight U.S. couples struggling with infertility won't fulfill their dreams of having biological kids, if a new bill in Washington becomes law.

House Resolution 586, known as the Sanctity of Human Life Act, states, "Human life shall be deemed to begin with fertilization."

Critics worry it could criminalize in vitro fertilization, or IVF, if embryos created in a lab do not turn into successful pregnancies.

"I can't imagine the couples out there that would be told they can't have that,” Pursley said. “These are babies that people haven't even conceived yet that matter to them."

Many pro-life advocates, including Brice Griffin, said legislation like this is overdue.

"I feel like we need legislation that protects life from the moment of fertilization in all cases no matter how it’s created," Griffin said.

North Carolina congressman Robert Pittenger is co-sponsoring the legislation. He told Eyewitness News the bill will not affect IVF, because it's only a declaration, not a regulatory bill.

"It's certainly not a legislative bill. It just says that life begins at inception," Pittenger said.

Still, Charlotte family law attorney Nicole Sodoma said it's too soon to tell what the bill could lead to, if anything.

"The way it's currently drafted, it is a broad stroke. It could have some unintended consequences," Sodoma said.

HR 586 was just introduced in Washington two weeks ago. It has not yet been changed or voted on.

Similar proposals have come up before, but opponents fear this bill has a greater chance of passing with Republicans in control of the U.S. House, Senate and White House.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

• Snow, icy roads force some school districts to close Monday
• Clemson grad denied entry into U.S. after President Trump's ban
• Protesters arrested at Charlotte Douglas face judge Monday
• Seven bricks of drugs discovered at American Airlines maintenance base
• Wrong way driver crashes into library after attempting to avoid traffic stop

Cox Media Group