By Mark Gray
6:56pm PST, Feb 26, 2024
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The Alabama Supreme Court's February decision declaring that embryos — whether they're within a uterus or frozen outside of it — are children is continuing to have ripple effects. According to the state's high court, an embryo created through IVF isn't just a potential person, but rather an actual person. Further, the court said people who destroy embryos can be found liable for wrongful death.
Since the ruling came down, multiple fertility clinics in Alabama paused IVF treatment programs due to potential legal risks.
Those who oppose the ruling fear that fertility treatment prices could skyrocket due to liability costs, making it difficult for families to afford IVF. CNN noted that the ruling "could discourage medical providers from performing infertility treatments in fear of being held liable each time an embryo does not turn into a successful pregnancy; and it could mean parents will now be forced to pay for lifelong storage fees of embryos they will never be allowed to discard, even if they don't want any more children."
The case has already become a talking point amid the 2024 election cycle, and Democrats will likely seize on the opportunity to allege that Republicans want to take reproductive choices away.
Join us as we take a look at how stars are reacting…
"IVF and access to it is critical! MAGA and America First is all about the pro-family agenda! Strong families are the best antidote to an ever growing seeming totalitarian govt!" —Caitlyn Jenner
Keep reading for more reactions…
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"Under my leadership, the Republican Party will always support the creation of strong, thriving, healthy American families. We want to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, not harder! That includes supporting the availability of fertility treatments like IVF in every State in America. Like the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of Americans, including the VAST MAJORITY of Republicans, Conservatives, Christians, and Pro-Life Americans, I strongly support the availability of IVF for couples who are trying to have a precious baby. Today, I am calling on the Alabama Legislature to act quickly to find an immediate solution to preserve the availability of IVF in Alabama. The Republican Party should always be on the side of the Miracle of Life — and the side of Mothers, Fathers, and their Beautiful Babies. IVF is an important part of that, and our Great Republican Party will always be with you, in your quest, for the ULTIMATE JOY IN LIFE!" —Donald Trump via Truth Social
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Conservative Meghan McCain thinks this issue crosses party lines. "I know A LOT of conservatives who have done IVF…. like a lot," she wrote on X on Feb. 23.
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"I was all for it. We need to have more kids. We need to have the opportunity to do that. I thought this was the right thing to do." —Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville.
In a subsequent message on X, he wrote, "I've spoken with Alabama Speaker of the House @RepLedbetter and he's assured me that a bill to protect IVF will be taken up immediately. We want everyone to have the opportunity to have kids. IVF will remain legal and available in Alabama."
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"People who don't know what IVF is are banning IVF. Good job, America," Lynda Carter tweeted after Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville's comment about supporting the decision.
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"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. 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." –President Joe Biden
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"Is a pile of bricks a house? #Alabama" –Mia Farrow
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"They came for abortion first. Now it's IVF and next it'll be birth control. The extreme right won't stop trying to exert government control over our most sacred personal decisions until we codify reproductive freedom as a human right." —Hillary Clinton
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"We should do everything we can to protect IVF for women everywhere." —Rep. Nancy Mace
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"In Alabama, some couples who want to start a family are now being deprived of access to IVF. It's outrageous," Vice President Kamala Harris said. She later added, "No matter what Donald Trump says about IVF today, don't get distracted from the facts. What's happening in Alabama is a direct result of Donald Trump's Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. He is the architect of this health care crisis."
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"IVF helps give many Americans the chance to experience the joy of parenthood, and government should never stand in the way of that. The Alabama ruling should be overturned." –Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan
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"Democrats warned that MAGA Republicans wouldn't stop at Roe v. Wade. Now they've set their sights on eliminating access to IVF. Millions of parents, from all walks of life and political affiliations, have used IVF to start a family. Radical conservative judges won't stop at anything to take control of Americans' most personal decisions." –Rep. James Clyburn
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"Pro IVF. Pro Family. Pro Life!" –Rep. Matt Gaetz
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"Donald Trump & MAGA Republicans are scrambling to distance themselves from the Alabama Supreme Court's decision. Trump can't rewrite history with empty words. The only reason IVF treatment is at risk is because Trump got his wish for his extremist Supreme Court to overturn Roe." –Sen. Elizabeth Warren
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"Without IVF, I wouldn't have my two beautiful daughters, but Republicans are working to rip away the right to grow a family from others. This is the work of Donald Trump's right-wing judges and an extremist Republican Party. We can't let them win this November." —Sen. Tammy Duckworth
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"First Republicans banned abortions so women couldn't terminate a pregnancy. Now they are coming for IVF so women can't begin a pregnancy. The GOP agenda is about one thing: government control of women." —Rep. Chris Murphy
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"Women should have the ability and right to have a family on their own terms and that includes having access to fertility treatments like IVF. Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose, and Matt Dolan have already made their position on this issue clear by opposing Issue 1." –Sen. Sherrod Brown
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"It has never been clearer that MAGA extremists will not stop at banning abortion. They are coming for contraception. They are coming for IVF. They are coming for women. And they will lose when voters have their say." —Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker
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"Actions speak louder than words. May I remind everyone that we actually tried to pass a bill protecting IVF just over a year ago? Republicans blocked it." –Sen. Tina Smith
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"You should have the right to abortion care. You should have the right to IVF. You should have the right to birth control. This isn't hard — you should have the right to control your body and future, not politicians, judges, or the government." —Sen. Tammy Baldwin
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"Families in Alabama are now losing access to IVF — the ability to start a family. This is the frightening reality of right-wing extremism in America in 2024. And exactly why we must win the fight for reproductive freedom." —Rep. Katherine Clark
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"Who the hell is going to want to come to Alabama after this ruling? How are they going to attract doctors?" —Former Alabama Sen. Doug Jones
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"As someone who struggled to get pregnant, I believe all life is a gift. IVF allowed me, as it has so many others, to start my family. I believe there is nothing more pro-life than helping families have children, and I do not support federal restrictions on IVF." —Rep. Michelle Steel
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"We need to pause and reflect on just how cruel this is. A woman who has desperately dreamed of becoming a mom could now be prosecuted in the state of Alabama for trying to make those dreams come true. It's sickening, and sadly not surprising for the @GOP" —California Gov. Gavin Newsom
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"The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are people, BUT turned down federal money that would feed kids! Welp! When those people finally thaw out, they better not be hungry!" —DL Hughley
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"My wife and I struggled for years to have children. Today, we are blessed to have two beautiful children. IVF is a valuable and important tool for many Arizona families. I will oppose any effort to restrict it." —Rep. David Schweikert
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"IVF when done responsibly is an important medical tool used to have children for those that would typically be unable to do so. I hope Alabama will find a quick solution to remedy this situation." —Rep. Anna Paulina Luna
