An unprecedented ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court stating that frozen embryos can be considered people under state law has thrust the question of when life begins back into the national spotlight and sparked concerns among critics that other states could seek to impose similar standards.
Fertility clinics in the state are still grappling with the practical implications of the ruling, which shook the reproductive rights community. While the immediate concern has been for clinics and prospective parents in Alabama, legal and health experts say they expect the decision to reignite the debate over how to define “personhood” in reproductive healthcare. Some anti-abortion advocates have already called for action from other states.
