The bill amends and reenacts several sections of Louisiana law regarding in vitro fertilized human embryos, providing new definitions and legal rights for these embryos. It establishes that a human embryo created through in vitro fertilization is recognized as a juridical person with specific rights, including the capacity to sue or be sued. The bill outlines the uses of in vitro fertilized human embryos, prohibiting their sale or use solely for research purposes, and emphasizes that they should only be used to support their development for implantation. It also clarifies that neither the medical facility nor the physician has decision-making authority over a viable embryo, which is instead granted to the intended parents.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for the legal transfer of rights and responsibilities concerning in vitro fertilized human embryos, allowing intended parents to renounce their rights in favor of others under specific conditions. It establishes judicial standards for resolving disputes related to these embryos, ensuring that any agreements directing the destruction of an embryo are deemed null and void. The bill also addresses liability protections for healthcare providers involved in the in vitro fertilization process and clarifies that inheritance rights for the embryos will only apply if they develop into live-born children. Notably, the bill repeals a previous section of law (R.S. 9:125) that may have conflicted with these new provisions.

Statutes affected:
SB156 Original:
SB156 Engrossed:
SB156 Reengrossed:
SB156 Enrolled:
SB156 Act :