Civil Action for the Preborn Stalls Following Alabama Ruling

The effort to pass legislation that would allow parents to pursue civil action for the wrongful death of their unborn child was called off on Monday in the midst of nationwide controversy following the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that defined embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) as children under Alabama state law.

"Although I have worked diligently to respond to questions and concerns, I understand there is still work to be done," said bill sponsor Senator Erin Grall (R-Fort Pierce). "It is important that we get the policy right with an issue of this importance." 

SB 476 (Grall) and HB 651 (Persons-Mulicka) utilize a definition elsewhere in Florida law that considers an "unborn child" as a human being "at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb" when establishing a new cause of civil action. Many news articles fail to mention that this definition excludes embryos that are stored for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Learn about the Church's teaching on reproductive technology. 

This Catholic Days at the Capitol issue is not expected to advance and is considered dead for the session.