Planned Parenthood Southeast President and CEO Carol McDonald Statement on Alabama’s Supreme Court Ruling on Stored Embryos

BIRMINGHAM – Today, President and CEO Carol McDonald (they/them) released the following statement following Alabama’s Supreme Court ruling that stored embryos can be considered children under state law: 

“The Alabama Supreme Court’s decision that stored embryos may be considered “unborn children '' is the devastating consequence of fetal personhood statutes and demonstrates the risk of these laws for all reproductive care. Already, Alabamians’ ability to access reproductive health care, including assisted reproductive care, is in jeopardy, and now their freedom to decide if and when to parent is further diminished. The chaos and heartbreak that is already resulting from this ruling in just a few days is exactly what reproductive rights advocates warned of when Alabama considered its personhood amendment — and the decision could ripple across the country on the state and federal level as personhood laws proliferate under the guise of supporting families. We cannot be fooled: the ultimate goal of the politicians proposing these laws is denying people, especially those who are Black, Latino, or LGBTQ+, their reproductive freedom. We will continue to fight back in every venue possible.”

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Planned Parenthood Southeast believes in the fundamental right of each individual to have access to high-quality, non-judgmental health care and prevention-focused education regardless of the individual's income, marital status, race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, faith identity or immigration status. Our mission is to provide comprehensive sexual health care through the provision of reproductive health services, education and advocacy.