A new era has begun for reproductive rights in America. The radical right political movement to take away abortion rights has been successful and the constitutional right to abortion is no longer protected. Millions of women in states that have banned abortion or severely restricted this medical procedure are at risk of forced pregnancy, which has severe health, economic and social consequences.
The recent SCOTUS decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization will impact much more than abortion care access. It will have a chilling effect on doctors’ practice of medicine in other reproductive health care situations, like miscarriage. Because treatment is identical to abortion care treatment, doctors and other medical practitioners may be afraid to provide appropriate care for those undergoing miscarriages. We know this happens in countries that ban abortions—there is data from Ireland, Italy and Poland and it is already starting to happen in the U.S. Not treating women who need treatment for miscarriage is unethical and forces women to carry unviable pregnancies. The potential damage is psychological and may be physical because untreated miscarriage can result in death.
Every individual has the human right to access comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion no matter where they live. Forced pregnancy is cruel, inhuman and amounts to torture. We will fight for every woman and girl in every zip code in America and beyond.