Written by Doina Chiak
The state's high court said embryos frozen in vitro should be considered children, upsetting doctors and patients and raising legal questions in reproductive medicine.
Haley sided with the Alabama court in an interview with NBC News.
“For me, a fetus is a baby,” Haley said. “When you talk about a fetus, to me you're talking about life. So when they talk about that, I understand where it's coming from.”
The former South Carolina governor said he delivered his son through artificial insemination, a different procedure that does not use embryos in a lab.
Haley is the last major Republican presidential candidate against 2024 presidential front-runner Donald Trump. The two are scheduled to meet for the third time on Saturday in Haley's home state of South Carolina, where Haley is once again trailing in the polls but refuses to withdraw.
President Trump has not publicly addressed the Alabama ruling. Representatives for his campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
In Alabama, which has some of the strictest abortion laws in the country, the ruling has caused widespread shock, leaving patients confused about whether to proceed with abortions, according to news reports. in vitro fertilization Some people are unsure whether to transfer their embryos.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham suspended in vitro fertilization after the state Supreme Court's ruling, fearing prosecution and lawsuits, hospital representatives said.
“We regret that this will impact our patients' attempts to give birth.” in vitro fertilizationHowever, we must assess the likelihood that patients and physicians may face criminal prosecution or punitive damages for following the standard of care. in vitro fertilization treatment,” the university's statement said.
The White House said the ruling would cause chaos for American families.
“This decision is outrageous and already takes away women's freedom to decide when and how to start a family,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in an X post Wednesday.
The Alabama decision is the latest ruling on reproductive services after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that recognized a woman's constitutional right to an abortion. Ta.
Republican candidates have largely avoided the abortion issue this election cycle. The party's overwhelming performance in the 2022 midterm elections was seen as a voter backlash against Roe v. Wade.
Haley, the only Republican woman in the 2024 race, urged Republicans to focus on building consensus instead of criticizing those who support abortion rights.
President Trump takes credit for appointing three right-wing justices to the Supreme Court and securing the majority needed to overturn Roe in the first place. But he also declined to say whether he would sign a nationwide ban.