The University of Alabama at Birmingham has halted in vitro fertilization treatments due to a new Alabama Supreme Court ruling that gives frozen embryos the same legal rights as children.

The ruling was triggered by an incident where frozen embryos were accidentally destroyed at a fertility clinic, which was found to be in breach of the state's Wrongful Death Act.

There is heightened concern amongst healthcare providers about the risk of criminal prosecution and the reduced availability of reproductive services in Alabama following the court's decision.

Nikki Haley, a presidential candidate, has publicly supported the ruling, calling IVF embryos 'babies' in an effort to resonate with both conservative and moderate voters.

The legal change poses challenges for the future of embryo freezing and the determination of rights concerning unused embryos, creating distress and uncertainty for both medical practitioners and individuals seeking fertility treatments.

The implications of the Supreme Court's decision are particularly profound considering the widespread use of assisted reproductive technologies, with over 97,000 babies born in the U.S. and more than half a million deliveries worldwide through IVF each year.