Three liberal U.S. senators have introduced a bill that would declare the practice, known as IFV, a federal right and thus remove what few regulations exist in the industry.
Emma Waters, a researcher who follows the IFV issue at The Heritage Foundation, suggests passage would mean the Wild, Wild West for the practice.
“What this federal bill proposes to do,” Waters advises, “is remove the modest regulations and limitations we have in place governing IVF and effectively open the practice up to be built with however an individual, intended parent, or the clinic sees fit.”
According to Waters, there are current guidelines that suggest creating only two three embryos at a time. That practice, she says, ensures they are being used for creating a child.
“But this isn't even within most laws themselves,” she says.
If the bill is passed, it would also open the door for creating designer babies based on gender, and selecting genetically-engineered traits such as athletic ability and I.Q.
In a related Heritage article published last summer, Waters reported seven months ago California’s liberal lawmakers were addressing IVF, such as mandating expensive IVF in insurance coverage.
