Personhood In Alabama And A Veto At The U.N.
1A
NPR
4.3 • 4.5K Ratings
🗓️ 21 February 2024
⏱️ 23 minutes
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Summary
On Friday, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that the couples could sue for wrongful death in an unprecedented decision that means frozen embryos are now considered "children" in the state. The court argued that the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act "applies to all children, born and unborn, without limitation." What does this decision mean for reproductive rights beyond abortion?
Also: this week, emotions are running high at the United Nations Security Council.
"The veto of this draft resolution is not only regrettable... it is absolutely reckless and dangerous against shielding Israel even as it commits the most shocking crimes," said Riyad Mansour, Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations.
Those comments came after the United States vetoed an Arab-backed and widely supported U.N. resolution. It demanded an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. Where does this leave negotiations now?
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | After Row was overturned, attention turned to what other rights would be on the chopping block. |
| 0:12.0 | Three Alabama couples had frozen |
| 0:14.6 | embryos stored for a possible future pregnancy at a fertility clinic in the state. |
| 0:19.7 | A patient wandering around the clinic dropped the embryos making them unusable. |
| 0:24.8 | But late last week, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled the couples could sue for wrongful death. |
| 0:30.5 | It's an unprecedented decision. |
| 0:32.6 | The court argued that the wrongful death of a minor act, quote, |
| 0:36.1 | applies to all children born and unborn without limitation, end quote. |
| 0:41.6 | What does it mean for couples in Alabama and other states? What impact could it have |
| 0:45.9 | on the fertility business? And if one state has changed the legal status of frozen embryos |
| 0:51.3 | was to stop others from doing the same. And in international news |
| 0:54.9 | the US vetoes a UN resolution demanding a humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamass |
| 1:00.3 | war. We hear why and ask where that leaves negotiations now. I'm Jen White. You're |
| 1:05.8 | listening to the what a podcast where we get to the heart of the story. We'll be |
| 1:09.6 | back after this short break. Joining us to talk about the Alabama case and its national implications is Mary |
| 1:20.6 | Ziegler. |
| 1:21.6 | She's a law professor at the University of California |
| 1:23.9 | Davis School of Law. She's also the author of several books including Row, |
| 1:27.8 | the history of a national obsession and reproduction in the Constitution in the United States. |
| 1:33.3 | Mary, it's great to have you back. |
| 1:35.1 | Thanks for having me. |
| 1:36.5 | So the court's decision on Friday |
... |
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