Michigan committee hears bills to criminalize 'fertility fraud' after victims and advocates testify

The House Families and Veterans Committee met and took testimony on House Bills 5035 through 5039, a five-bill package proposed by Representatives Jack Roth and Alicia Saint Germain that would create criminal penalties for certain forms of so-called "fertility fraud." The committee adopted the Oct. 28 minutes and then heard opening remarks from the bills’ sponsors and nearly two hours of testimony from victims, national advocates, clinicians’ representatives and other stakeholders.

Representative Jack Roth, the sponsor who introduced the package, said the bills were prompted by a constituent’s DNA test that revealed the treating physician had used his own genetic material rather than the donor the patient selected. "We're talking about a facility that does IVF control. This is not your bar travel. This is actually something where you go and expect to get professional services, and if it doesn't happen, that is a problem," Roth said, describing the proposal as imposing "guardrails" to protect families and ensure informed consent for assisted reproduction.

Representative Alicia Saint Germain described HB5038 as the toughest element of the package. She said the bill would amend sentencing guidelines to make "individuals who provide false representation of reproductive procedures"…