Even though the state of Tennessee refers to embryos as property, Keenan, a longtime fertility doctor and University of Tennessee medical school professor, prefers to see the center as a caretaker.
“We would be considered owners of those embryos — legally speaking,” he said. “Do I think that’s the right word? No. We are caretakers of these embryos.”
Keenan said he tries to help patients be as intentional as possible during treatment. That includes making decisions about how many embryos they want to create — and what happens to any excess embryos.
Looking back, Andersen wishes she’d thought through the long-term implications of IVF at the start. She’s begun writing more about the process, in hopes that others will learn from her experience.
“I want more people to think through the long game of this,” she said. “This is not just a right now thing. Someday your kids will be born and you’re not going to be dealing with infertility anymore. And then you have to deal with other consequences.”
This article originally appeared here.
