A 36-year-old unmarried Chinese woman, Teresa Xu, fought for six years to obtain the right to freeze her eggs in China. An initial consult at a hospital in 2018 was denied because she was not married, as hospital regulations in China require women to be married to freeze their eggs. Xu considered freezing her eggs abroad but found it too expensive. After multiple attempts, a court in Beijing ruled against Xu’s appeal, stating that the hospital did not violate her rights in denying her access to the procedure.
Xu expressed disappointment but acknowledged that the outcome was not unexpected. She felt that instead of receiving professional services, she was given life advice about having a child. Despite the verdict, Xu decided to appeal the decision due to the potential societal impact. The court mentioned in its judgment that as the country’s birth policies evolve, relevant medical laws and regulations may also change accordingly.
The process was further delayed during the pandemic, but Xu persevered in seeking justice for her case. She believed in the importance of fighting for her rights and hoped for a positive change in the future. Xu’s journey to access reproductive services highlights the challenges faced by unmarried women in China and the need for evolving medical and health laws to reflect changing societal norms.
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