Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has voiced her support for the recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling regarding frozen embryos, asserting that she views embryos as babies. In a pull-aside interview with NBC News, Haley expressed her agreement with the court’s decision, which holds that those who destroy embryos can be held liable for wrongful death.
Haley, who revealed that she used artificial insemination to conceive her son, emphasized her belief that embryos represent life. Drawing a distinction between saving sperm or eggs and the preservation of embryos, she asserted that embryos constitute a form of life deserving protection.
The court’s ruling, which raises questions about the beginning of life, has ignited a national debate with ramifications for infertility treatments. The University of Alabama at Birmingham health system has announced a pause in IVF treatment in response to the decision, while religious groups are citing it as precedent in abortion rights cases outside of Alabama. Although the ruling does not outright ban IVF, it marks the first instance in which a US court has deemed frozen embryos as human beings. Critics caution that the decision could increase the cost of fertility treatments and dissuade medical professionals from offering infertility services.
When questioned about the potential impact on individuals seeking IVF, Haley acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue, stressing the importance of respectful consideration in such matters. She emphasized the need for couples to make informed decisions regarding their reproductive choices.
As a self-described “unapologetically pro-life” advocate, Haley has called for bipartisan collaboration on reproductive issues, including abortion rights. While she has supported restrictions on late-term abortions and opposed the incarceration of women who undergo abortions, she has refrained from endorsing specific federal bans. During her incumbency as governor of South Carolina, Haley signed legislation prohibiting abortion after 20 weeks. However, she has emphasized the need for flexibility in addressing abortion laws at the national level, indicating a willingness to sign similar measures if presented as governor.
In her presidential campaign, Haley has sought to appeal to moderates by articulating her stance on abortion while advocating for a consensus-driven approach to reproductive rights.