The University of Alabama at Birmingham health system has announced a temporary halt to in vitro fertilization procedures following a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court. The decision has raised fears of potential criminal prosecution and lawsuits, prompting the UAB Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility to pause the process of fertilization and embryo development. Patients undergoing IVF treatment at UAB can continue up to the egg retrieval stage, but further procedures have been put on hold.

The Alabama Supreme Court's ruling, which equates frozen embryos to children in wrongful death lawsuits, has sent shockwaves through the medical community. The court's majority opinion considers fertilized eggs and embryos as "extrauterine children," leading to concerns about the legal implications for patients and physicians involved in IVF treatments.

The decision has significant ramifications for families seeking IVF treatment for various reasons, including blocked fallopian tubes or genetic diseases. With about 2 percent of births in the United States resulting from IVF, medical experts have warned that this ruling could limit access to such treatments in Alabama.

The case that prompted the ruling involved three families in Mobile who sued a fertility clinic and hospital after their frozen embryos were destroyed. The circuit court originally dismissed claims of wrongful death, but the Alabama Supreme Court, in a sweeping and unqualified decision, overturned that ruling.

UAB's decision to pause IVF procedures while evaluating legal consequences marks the first clinic to take action in response to the Supreme Court ruling. The outcome of this legal battle could have far-reaching implications for the future of IVF practices in Alabama.