The majority of Americans believe the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) is morally acceptable, while they remain divided on destroying the frozen human embryos made through IVF, according to a new survey.
In the Gallup poll, released Thursday, 82 percent of Americans said the use of IVF is morally acceptable, while 10 percent said it is morally wrong and 8 percent said other or no opinion.
Meanwhile, 49 percent of Americans believe it is morally acceptable to destroy frozen human embryos, while 43 percent said it is not. Nine percent chose other or no opinion.
The use of IVF was thrust into the political spotlight earlier this year after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled in February that frozen embryos were children, and those who destroy them can be held liable for their death.
IVF services were mostly halted in the state, though lawmakers quickly passed legislation to address civil and criminal liability for IVF providers that prompted some health care providers to resume services.
The Senate is expected to vote Thursday on legislation for IVF protections, introduced by a trio of Democrats.
Democrats in the upper chamber blocked Republicans’ competing legislation on the issue Wednesday.
The majority of Democrats, independents and Republicans all believe IVF is morally acceptable, while the groups are more divided when it comes to the destruction of frozen human embryos created by IVF, Gallup noted.
About 89 percent of Democrats, 84 percent of independents and 72 percent said IVF is morally acceptable, while 65 percent of Democrats, 43 percent of independents and only 39 percent of Republicans found destroying frozen embryos to be morally acceptable.
Participants’ religiosity also played a role in their views on the use of the IVF procedure, with those who attend religious serves weekly much less likely to say IVF is morally acceptable, Gallup noted.
Sixty-three percent of weekly churchgoers said IVF is acceptable, while 77 percent of those who attend services nearly weekly, or monthly, said the same. Ninety-one percent of those who seldom or never attend agreed IVF is morally acceptable.
The analysis comes one day after the Southern Baptist Convention voted to oppose the use of IVF during its national convention.
The Gallup analysis was based on the Values and Beliefs Survey of the Gallup Poll Social Series, taken May 1-23. The series consists of interviews with people 18 years and older living in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
