The American Fertility Association Opposes Georgia Senate Bill 169

March 4, 2009, New York City - The American Fertility Association is asking you to oppose a bill introduced in the Georgia State Senate. Senate Bill 169 would greatly reduce a patient’s rights to receive infertility treatments in Georgia.

The key provisions are as follows:

- No more than two or three eggs could ever be fertilized in a cycle; if a woman produced more eggs, they still could not be used.

-Only 2 embryos could ever be transferred to the uterus, unless the woman is age 40 or over (then a max of 3).

- No extra embryos could be cryo-preserved. If they are created, they have to be transferred.

- No financial relief, such as insurance coverage, is proposed to help with the added financial burden of using less effective treatment. Patients will still have to pay out of pocket for less effective treatment.

-Bans all financial compensation for donor gametes, such as egg donor, sperm donor, or embryo donation, which would greatly reduce the pool of available donors in Georgia.

The American Fertility Association has joined forces with American Society of Reproductive Medicine and RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, to oppose this bill.

Several Georgia medical professionals have also voiced opposition like Daniel Shapiro, M.D., of Reproductive Biology Associates in Atlanta who tells The AFA, “This bill is intended to lay the foundation to overturn Roe v. Wade. The stipulations about IVF were added on late, after the ‘Octomom’ story hit the press. If any regulations are to be applied, they should come from medical boards and should regulate who practices fertility medicine and not how they practice.”

The Georgia Senate Health & Human Services Committee will hold a hearing on SB 169 Thursday, March 5, at 9:00 AM in Room 450 of the State Capitol. The committee will hear testimony in the hearing which is open to the public. You’re encouraged to attend and voice opposition to the bill.

If you can’t make the meeting, you’re asked to please contact the Office of Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle at the following web address and express your opposition and concern:

http://ltgov.georgia.gov/00/agency/contact_us/0,2688,2199618_87997337,00.html

You may also contact your Senator directly by finding him or her at the following web address:

http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/FindLegislator.htm

Press Contacts:
March 5-10, 2009
Lisa Van Ness
Development Manager
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
704.895.7933

After March 5th:
Brian Armentrout
Communications Director
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
205.425.3644

The American Fertility Association, a 501 (c) (3) national non-profit organization is a lifetime resource for infertility prevention, reproductive health and family building. AFA services and materials are provided free of charge to consumers and available to everyone without reservation. These services include an extensive online library, monthly online chats, telephone and in-person coaching, a resource directory, hosted message boards, daily fertility news and a toll-free support line.
http://www.theafa.org or 888.917.3777.

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The American Fertility Association Opposes Georgia Senate Bill 169

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