Banning abortion prevents us from providing safe care to all pregnant women

Abstract

Abortion bans or restrictions in US states are endangering all women, including those with pregnancies that are not viable or are actively harming their health, writes Maryl Sackeim On 24 June 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v Wade and revoked the constitutional right to abortion. Following the Dobbs decision, control of abortion policies was returned to individual states. The election on 5 November further degrades hope for progress in women’s health. With Donald Trump now the president-elect, a federal abortion ban is likely, and even access to in vitro fertilisation and contraception may be at risk.1 Many political and moral problems exist with a male dominated court and political party deciding who can make decisions about women’s reproductive autonomy. But as a healthcare professional in obstetrics and gynaecology, what concerns me most is the court’s limited view of what is at stake here: the ability to keep pregnant women healthy. Abortion is completely banned in 13 states and heavily restricted in others. This removes far more than access to the narrow definition of abortion these lawmakers used: ending an unwanted pregnancy. Banning abortion takes away the ability of healthcare professionals in obstetrics and gynaecology to do …