A court in Beijing has ruled against an unmarried Chinese woman’s right to freeze her eggs, marking the end of a six-year legal battle for reproductive services that has garnered national attention. The Chaoyang Intermediate People’s Court upheld the ruling that a hospital did not violate Teresa Xu’s rights when it denied her access to egg freezing services. Xu, who is 36 years old, first inquired about freezing her eggs at the age of 30 but was refused the procedure because she was not married, in accordance with hospital regulations in China.
Despite being disappointed with the judgment, Xu stated that she was not surprised by the outcome. She had considered alternative options such as seeking egg freezing services abroad, but found the cost to be prohibitive. After multiple attempts, her case was finally accepted by the court in 2019, but the process was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Xu decided to appeal the court’s decision, acknowledging that her chances of success were low but hoping to make a societal impact. She highlighted that the judgment, while unfavorable, included positive language suggesting that changes in policies regarding births in China could lead to changes in medical and health laws, regulations, and ethical standards related to reproductive services. Overall, Xu’s case sheds light on the challenges faced by unmarried women seeking reproductive services in China and the need for reforms in existing regulations.
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