Costa Rica to Regulate In-Vitro Fertilization After a Long Legal Battle

Costa Rica, a mostly Catholic Central American nation that takes pride in its respect for civil liberties, has long been the only country in the Americas that bans in-vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF was banned in Costa Rica in 2000 under pressure from the Catholic Church. Some opposing couples sued the government over the ban. After a long legal battle, Costa Rica's President will issue a decree to regulate IVF.

President Luis Guillermo Solis said, "My office will issue regulations by September to comply with a regional court ruling by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. I am going to take action since I do not want Costa Rica to face sanctions a second time over failure to comply with the November 2013 ruling."

Costa Rica has a date with the court on September 3, 2015, to explain how it is complying with the ruling lifting the ban on the reproductive technology. Sollis said, "But its lawmakers, who should normally issue the regulations, will not be able to make the deadline given the still-controversial nature of the procedure."

Source: AFP