‘Fertilized Egg Personhood’ Back on the Agenda

by Gretchen Borchelt, Senior Counsel
National Women’s Law Center

Remember Colorado’s crazy ballot initiative, designed to overrule Roe v. Wade by giving constitutional rights to fertilized eggs?  Voters overwhelmingly rejected it, but that hasn’t stopped the anti-choice forces who came up with the idea. Instead, they’ve simply moved on to other states.

In one state – North Dakota – legislators are actually voting for it. It’s already passed the House and is being considered in the Senate.

The North Dakota bill goes even further than the Colorado ballot initiative. Instead of just giving constitutional rights to fertilized eggs, it gives fertilized eggs rights under the state constitution and all state laws. That means it could impact literally thousands of laws, from when property rights are granted, to inheritance rights, to access to the courts. One of my favorite outrageous scenarios – what happens if you’re pregnant and go for a bike ride? The fetus would be required by law to wear a helmet! Obviously, if this bill becomes law, it would result in a legal nightmare that would clog North Dakota courts.

And of course let’s not forget that this bill could ban abortion, even if the woman’s life is at risk, and could threaten stem cell research, in vitro fertilization, common birth control methods like the Pill, and access to emergency contraception for rape and incest victims.

Local advocates have set up a campaign to stop this dangerous, intrusive, and far-reaching bill and need all of our support.