Assembly OKs Bill Making Human Egg Theft a Felony

A bill crafted in response to the UC Irvine fertility clinic scandal that would make human egg-stealing a felony passed in the state Assembly on Wednesday and appears headed for a final Senate vote as early as today.

The bill’s author, Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica), said he expects it and a companion bill by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-Burlingame) to reach the governor’s desk within a week.

“It won’t be a problem,” Hayden said.

The Assembly voted 58 to 4 in favor of the legislation, which would make the taking of human eggs and embryos a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.

Hayden introduced the bill after law enforcement officials complained it might be difficult to bring charges against the three physicians implicated in the UCI scandal because the law doesn’t directly address the issue of human egg theft.

Three doctors at the now-defunct UCI clinic have been accused by former patients of stealing their eggs and embryos and implanting them in others, some of whom gave birth. About 80 former patients have sued the doctors, who have denied any intentional wrongdoing.

The state Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a Speier bill that establishes the process for obtaining informed consent. Doctors would risk losing their licenses if they did not comply. That bill could come up for a final vote in the Assembly as early as today.