Missouri court: embryos conceived through IVF are property, not children
November 22, 2016
A Missouri court has ruled that two embryos conceived through in-vitro fertilization are marital property, not children, and that both parties to a divorce must consent to their implantation.
The embryonic children of Justin Gadberry, now 34, and Jalesia McQueen, now 44, were frozen in 2007 while the two were married. McQueen wants the embryos to be implanted in her womb; her ex-husband wants them destroyed or used for research.
The court’s majority accepted Gadberry’s contention that he has a “right not to procreate.” Judge James Dowd dissented, writing, “Missouri law makes one thing abundantly clear: the two embryos at issue in this case are human beings with protectable interests in life, health and well-being.”
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Further information:
- Missouri appeals court: Frozen embryos property, not people (AP)
- Missouri Appeals Court: Frozen Pre-Embryos Are Marital Property, Not Children (Religion Clause)
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Posted by: brownjudith2930 -
Nov. 23, 2016 12:30 AM ET USA
Run that by me again: the embryos are marital property, not children; the embryos are human beings with protectable interests!
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Posted by: WNS3234 -
Nov. 22, 2016 7:27 PM ET USA
Sounds like an echo of the Dred Scott decision; no small irony there.
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Posted by: jalsardl5053 -
Nov. 22, 2016 6:11 PM ET USA
As usual any more, the courts get it wrong and Gadberry leads the charge. Dear Judges (except for the intelligent Dowd): it should have occurred to you that indeed Gadberry has already procreated, oh, I almost forgot, you buy into the "blob of tissue" argument which, in this case, evidently trumps the almighty women's rights.
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Posted by: nix898049 -
Nov. 22, 2016 4:41 PM ET USA
Isn't he a bit late in exercising his 'right'?
