MONTGOMERY, Ala. (NEWSnet/AP) — A large Alabama hospital has paused in vitro fertilization treatments, as health care providers assess the impact of a state court ruling that frozen embryos are the legal equivalent of children.

said Wednesday its Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility has paused the treatments as it evaluates Alabama Supreme Court’s decision that a cryopreserved embryo “is a human being.”

“We are saddened that this will impact our patients’ attempt to have a baby through IVF, but we must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments,” according to a statement provided by spokeswoman Savannah Koplon.

The ruling by Alabama Supreme Court prompted concern about the future of IVF treatments in the state and the potential unintended consequence of extreme anti-abortion laws. Patients called clinics to see if scheduled IVF treatments would continue. Providers consulted with attorneys.

Justices, citing language in the Alabama Constitution that the state recognizes the “rights of the unborn child,” said three couples could sue for wrongful death when their frozen embryos were destroyed in a accident at a storage facility.

“Unborn children are ‘children’ ... without exception based on developmental stage, physical location, or any other ancillary characteristics,” Justice Jay Mitchell wrote in the Feb. 16 majority ruling.

Barbara Collura, the CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, told The Associated Press Tuesday that the ruling raises questions for providers and patients, including if they can freeze future embryos created during fertility treatment or if patients could donate or destroy unused embryos.

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