Senator Duckworth Expresses Concern over Alabama Supreme Court Ruling on Embryos and IVF
In a recent interview with ABC News “This Week,” Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth expressed her devastation over a controversial Alabama Supreme Court ruling that deemed embryos as people under the law. Senator Duckworth, who made history in 2018 as the first senator to have a child while serving in the chamber through in vitro fertilization (IVF), raised concerns about the potential impact of this ruling on reproductive treatments like IVF.
Duckworth criticized conservatives for their perceived disingenuousness in distancing themselves from the case. She stated, “Republicans will say whatever they need to say to try to cover themselves on this, but they’ve been clear and Donald Trump has been the guy leading this effort to eliminate women’s reproductive rights and reproductive choice.” The senator also mentioned her Access to Family Building Act, which aims to guarantee access to IVF and other reproductive services, and expressed disappointment that no Republicans had reached out to her regarding the bill.
The Alabama Supreme Court ruling has raised questions about the implications for IVF providers and families using the treatment. Although Alabama’s attorney general has stated that he won’t prosecute IVF providers or families, some clinics in Alabama have already suspended their IVF services due to concerns surrounding the court ruling.
Senator Duckworth highlighted the potential consequences of the ruling by sharing her personal experience. She explained, “The decision is very clear that a fertilized egg is a child, is a human being, which means that for example in my case, when we have five fertilized eggs and three were non-viable. When my doctor discarded those with my consent — that would be considered potentially manslaughter or murder.”
Duckworth linked this ruling to the broader Republican push to restrict abortion rights, which ultimately led to the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022. She emphasized that this issue would be a focal point in the upcoming 2024 presidential campaign, stating, “We’re going to talk about the fact that Donald Trump is the guy and Republicans have been working literally for years to take away your reproductive choice, which includes access to IVF for people struggling to start families.”
While Trump and other leading Republicans have expressed support for IVF since the Alabama court ruling, they have not specified how the law should change regarding the legal status of embryos. Duckworth noted that previous Republican proposals on reproductive rights did not include exceptions for IVF.
Turning to the topic of President Joe Biden’s administration, Senator Duckworth highlighted the contrasting goals of Biden and Trump. She accused Trump of running for president solely for his own benefit and not for the American people or working families. Duckworth also blamed Trump for the failure of a bipartisan border package in the Senate, despite months of effort from Oklahoma Senator James Lankford to broker a compromise. According to Duckworth, Trump’s dismissal of the package as insufficient and weak led to its downfall.
When questioned about her stance on President Biden taking executive actions on immigration, Duckworth expressed her support, citing the “crisis” at the border. She also emphasized provisions in the failed border package that would have allowed asylum seekers to work while their cases were being adjudicated.
As the 2024 presidential campaign approaches, it is evident that reproductive rights, particularly access to IVF, will be a pivotal topic of discussion. Senator Duckworth’s concerns over the Alabama Supreme Court ruling shed light on the potential consequences for individuals and families relying on reproductive treatments. The senator’s remarks also highlight the ongoing battle between Republicans and Democrats over issues such as abortion rights and immigration policies.
