Episode 38: The Politics & Policy of Assisted Reproductive Technology

The Whole Pineapple

Content warning: there are mentions of abortion, incest, and rape in this episode.

Advocacy is on the menu for today’s episode — and to quote our Season One guest Lara Hayden in episode 13, listen up to learn how we can all “be prepared, not scared.”

Sean Tipton, Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), is a fantastic resource for getting prepared. Mr. Tipton formulates and executes media and government affairs programs for ASRM, the country’s leading organization for professionals involved in reproductive health care and infertility. In this role, he has worked in policy venues ranging from local zoning boards to the United Nations. Sean has degrees in political science from Transylvania University and The Ohio State University.

As he says, part of his role is being a translator: explaining healthcare to policymakers and media, and explaining law and changes in policy to healthcare professionals and laypeople.

So how do we “be prepared”?

First, Sean says, know your rights. The First Amendment guarantees us freedom to petition our government for redress of grievances. We all have the right to complain to our elected officials when we have a genuine grievance. As Anne says, she needs a tee shirt that says, “I have legitimate grievances.”

Be informed and operate from a position of knowledge. There’s a lot of fear surrounding the Dobbs decision: how will it affect women’s choices and health? How will it affect assisted reproduction? For legislators, it can be a minefield: they often don’t really know enough to debate the topic from an informed position, and they may not know what their constituents or party will accept. Information genuinely is power.

Listen carefully to language and interpretation. A lot of terms are being thrown around, sometimes by people who aren’t careful or expert enough to handle those terms. Be sure you understand what someone is truly saying when they talk about reproduction, and the technology and the rights involved. Are legislators listening to the experts and passing on accurate information? If not, there may be an opportunity to challenge and educate.

• What has changed with the Dobbs decision? 8:51
• How does personhood laws impact IVF? 13:30
• How to promote access to reproductive care. 24:58
• The complexity of IVF and abortion bans. 30:40

To stay informed and engage in advocacy, check out ASRM at asrm.org. Find Sean Tipton on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/sean-tipton) and check out his episode on the ASRM Today podcast.

As always, find more from Anne and Ruby on thewholepineapple.com, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with anyone who can benefit!