Dr. Diwakar Kishore, my mentor for this research, is currently an MPhil/PhD candidate in Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). His expertise in social policy and the intersection of law and public health provided invaluable guidance throughout the study.

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The background of this research is rooted in the February 16th, 2024, Alabama Supreme Court ruling that equated embryos with living children under the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. This landmark decision has significant implications for reproductive technologies, particularly in vitro fertilization (IVF), and raises critical questions about the intersection of law, ethics, and science. The ruling led to the suspension of IVF services at major medical institutions due to concerns over legal liabilities, highlighting the broader socio-economic and scientific challenges posed by such legal interpretations. This research aims to explore these challenges, examining how legal frameworks impact access to reproductive healthcare, the progress of scientific research, and the broader socio-economic consequences for marginalized communities.

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