In Beijing, an unmarried Chinese woman, Teresa Xu, fought for six years for the right to freeze her eggs, but a court ruled against her. The Chaoyang Intermediate People’s Court upheld the ruling that a hospital did not violate Xu’s rights when it denied her access to egg freezing services. Chinese hospital regulations require women to be married to freeze their eggs, leading to Xu being refused the procedure when she first inquired at 30 years old in 2018. Despite exploring alternative options, such as egg freezing abroad, Xu found the costs prohibitive. After multiple attempts, the court finally accepted her case in 2019, but the process was delayed due to the pandemic. In 2022, the court issued a judgment stating that the hospital did not violate her rights. Xu decided to appeal despite knowing her chances of success were low, hoping to make a societal impact. She highlighted the positive language in the judgment, which suggested that as China’s birth policy is adjusted, relevant laws, regulations, and standards in the medical field may also change. Xu expressed both disappointment and determination, emphasizing the need for professional services over unsolicited life advice. Despite the setback, she sees an opportunity for progress in the future as attitudes towards reproductive rights evolve in China.
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