September 23, 2024
Cited article by ProPublica
HRRC supports the human rights and science-based approach to healthcare. It is critical to understand the necessity for legislation that protects choices for one's health and the ability to seek health care when needed. Access to basic healthcare is a human right.
News Brief
In the United States, there has been a marked increase in abortion-related deaths and complications. Even prior to the Supreme Court of the U.S.'s (SCOTUS) Dobbs Decision in 2022, Black women had a much higher maternal mortality rate compared to other populations. However, Georgia’s new six-week abortion ban has made the process of obtaining healthcare even more complicated and challenging for women seeking appropriate care.
This week, ProPublica’s report has revealed one of the first abortion-related deaths that can be tied to the SCOTUS ruling. Amber Nicole Thurman received an abortion-inducing medication after traveling from Georgia to North Carolina. After taking the medication, Thurman had complications and an infection. She sought care at a hospital in Atlanta and was denied care due to the language in Georgia’s abortion law. Because of this language, medical professionals hesitated, and through this hesitation, Thurman died.
Across the nation, abortion-related complications have been bolstered by strict abortion laws passed throughout the states. The language of these bans often requires choosing between life and death scenarios rather than using expert medical knowledge. Basic medical care in some cases has even been conflated with an abortion, such as in Thurman’s case. Many experts have condemned the vague language of these laws and have argued for more leeway for healthcare professionals to make decisions that meet the standard of care for their patients.