In a groundbreaking ruling, the Alabama Supreme Court has declared that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law, setting a precedent that has significant implications for fertility treatments in the state.
The decision was reached in wrongful death cases involving three couples whose embryos were destroyed in a tragic accident at a fertility clinic. Justices cited anti-abortion language in the Alabama Constitution as the basis for their ruling, sparking concerns about the future of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments in Alabama.
Following the ruling, the fertility clinic involved in the cases has been instructed to pause all IVF treatments, leaving patients like 26-year-old Gabby Goidel worried about the availability and legality of freezing or destroying unused embryos.
Experts warn that the decision could limit access to modern healthcare in Alabama, particularly impacting individuals seeking IVF treatments. The plaintiffs in the cases had their embryos destroyed, leading to the lawsuit that ultimately resulted in this controversial ruling.
While anti-abortion groups have supported the decision, dissenting opinions have questioned the interpretation of the law, particularly in connection to the anti-abortion language added to the Alabama Constitution in 2018.
The decision has drawn criticism from the White House, with the press secretary blaming Republican elected officials for blocking access to reproductive and emergency care. Many fear that this ruling is a consequence of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, further complicating the landscape of reproductive rights in the state of Alabama.
