President Joe Biden on Thursday blasted the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that said frozen embryos are considered children in the state, calling it “outrageous and unacceptable.”
“Today, in 2024 in America, women are being turned away from emergency rooms and forced to travel hundreds of miles for health care, while doctors fear prosecution for providing an abortion. And now, a court in Alabama put access to some fertility treatments at risk for families who are desperately trying to get pregnant. The disregard for women’s ability to make these decisions for themselves and their families is outrageous and unacceptable,” Biden wrote in the statement.
On Tuesday, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that “unborn children are ‘children’ … without exception based on developmental stage, physical location, or any other ancillary characteristics.” The unprecedented decision could impact the future of in vitro fertilization treatments in the state — and IVF providers are pausing parts of its care to patients after the ruling for fear of legal risks.
Biden said the court’s decisions is a “direct result of the overturning of Roe v. Wade” — the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision.
Biden said he will work to restore Roe v. Wade.
“My message is: The Vice President and I are fighting for your rights. We’re fighting for the freedom of women, for families, and for doctors who care for these women. And we won’t stop until we restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law for all women in every state,” Biden wrote in the statement.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
