American Life League recently submitted an amicus brief in support of the government of Costa Rica's complete ban on in vitro fertilization. "The public doesn't like to admit the fact that IVF does the same thing that abortion does – it kills preborn babies," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League. "It is no secret that the excess embryos created in fertility clinics are destroyed once the parents achieve the pregnancy or pregnancies they desire. It is never acceptable to destroy innocent human persons. Because of this truth, American Life League strongly supports the Costa Rican ban on IVF."
A Costa Rican couple that wants to use IVF filed a suit challenging the country's ban. American Life League was joined by Human Life International in issuing a joint friend of the court brief highlighting several points:
- Right to Life: "Every person has the right to have his life respected. This right shall be protected by law and, in general, from the moment of conception. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life."
- Rights of the Child: "Every minor child has the right to the measures of protection required by his condition as a minor on the part of his family, society, and the state. Petitioner cannot eliminate this right guaranteed to the IVF child."
- Right to Equal Protection: "All persons are equal before the law. Consequently, they are entitled, without discrimination, to equal protection of the law. 'Persons,' as shown previously, include the IVF humans."
"The country of Costa Rica has taken a bold step in defending innocent human beings' lives," said Brown. "We must support them in any way that we can and let them know that this ban will protect an untold number of preborn babies from the imminent death that IVF brings."
"The Costa Rica ban is an excellent example of the legal system doing what it was created to do – protect the innocent," said Brown. "Procedures such as IVF and abortion are direct attacks on the most vulnerable of our society. We applaud this legal decision and pray that more lawmakers and judges worldwide will follow in protecting all human beings' lives from creation to natural death."
Release issued: 8 Mar 05