Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner says he’s “pausing” his campaign to travel overseas for his wife to get IVF treatment.
Platner says she’ll go through the process in an effort to have a baby in Norway, where the cost is about one-fifth the $25,000 price in New England.
He says the cost domestically is an example of how the U.S. healthcare system is flawed.
The IVF process uses frozen embryos, which is opposed by those who consider the embryos human life, and are critical of the possible destruction of embryos.
The Alabama Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) should be considered children.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has proclaimed himself the “fertilization president,” promising to create plans to make IVF affordable.
IVF is opposed by the Catholic Church because it separates procreation from the marital act, and can involve the destruction or freezing of embryos, which the Church considers human beings.
Platner made his announcement with his will in a video Facebook post, saying his Senate campaign is aimed at building power to help working Americans receive universal healthcare.
