MADISON – Today, Representative Jodi Emerson and Senator Kelda Roys introduced a bill that establishes a statutory right to access fertility treatments (such as IVF) in Wisconsin. Under this bill, individuals have a right to receive fertility treatments from a health care provider and make decisions about their reproductive genetic material. Rep. Jodi Emerson (D-Eau Claire) has issued the following statement:
“The choice to start a family is one of the most important choices we make in our lives. This bill protects the freedom to choose for many families in the Chippewa Valley and across Wisconsin. This bill protects the freedom to pursue the dream of parenthood without being blocked by government overreach. Infertility is a medical diagnosis, and like any other health condition, the decision belongs to families in consultation with medical professionals.
Around 175,000 women and families in Wisconsin are struggling with infertility. These are our neighbors, friends, and family members who are quietly carrying this silent and unseen emotional and financial burden. Laws that ban or limit fertility treatments are another attempt by politicians to get between the people and their doctors, and they make it impossible for many individuals to start families.
To prevent this overreach in Wisconsin, it is paramount that we establish a state statutory right to fertility treatments and protect the rights of Wisconsinites. Government should not be in the business of regulating who can and cannot become parents.”
