In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling Americans seeking reproductive healthcare
are facing profound logistical, legal and medical obstacles. Women's health clinics
and a number of states are already canceling appointments for fear
they could violate state laws that now restrict or completely ban abortion.
I recently spoke to Dr Jamila parrot and O B. G. Y N, based in Washington,
D C and president and CEO of physicians for reproductive Health, and
I asked her what she's been hearing from doctors across the country,
including in states where abortion is now illegal.
Many of our providers in our network are just devastated, is devastated
as the folks who are seeking care who have a need for abortion care
are you know we weren't surprised by this ruling. We have seen the
previous administration really work too aggressively stacked both
the federal and the state court with
Judges who are openly against abortion access, and and with the leaked
draft opinion. We know that this was coming, but it's still quite
a blow for many of us.
Unpack more of this sort of medical and health implications, especially
for even pregnant women who don't want an abortion but now live in
states where it's illegal. As I understand it, you know their healthcare
options are in peril to
It's important that we understand that abortion is just the tip of
the iceberg. You're absolutely right. Reproductive health across
the board is going to be impacted, really devastating way, you know
for folks that are seeking abortion care, the inability to obtain
that care results in long term economics, social emotional
Outcomes that are are negative as compared with those who have been
able to obtain that care. We know that for folks who are undecided
about their options, as opposed to being able to see their healthcare
provider to see their doctor and to get unbiased counseling about
what possible Next steps exist. We know that now depending on where
you live
Depending on the state. You reside in your zip code. Your care may
be vastly different. And so these implications are really long and
far reaching. Not to mention the implications that we're going to
see for things like infertility care, management of pregnancy laws
and maternal mortality and morbidity. We already have abysmal.
Rates of maternal morbidity and mortality in this country, particularly
for black women who are seeking care that we know are 3 to 4 more
times likely to die during childbirth and the postpartum period.
And so continuing to, um not make space not make a way for folks
to get the care that they need. We know that the impact on maternal
morbidity and mortality you're going to be great as well.
I want to ask you about something you tweeted. You said there is
no mandate to report someone you suspect or know has self managed
their abortion. In fact, it's a violation of privacy laws antithetical
public health.
And human rights frameworks and causes harm. Is that something that
doctors like yourself are concerned about your own sort of legal
exposure. Absolutely. I think it's you know, people have been managing
their abortion outside of the formal health system for a really long
time and we have seen that being arrested, Jailed punished.
Criminalized for doing so. And so what is important for both patients
and providers to know is that there is no mandatory reporting law
tied to suspicion of self managed abortion. And so we want healthcare
providers to know that we also know that when
Doctors and other healthcare providers are turned into agents of
the state. Even asked to interrogate people about what they've done
prior to seeking care. It keeps people out of care.
So he's laws suggesting that doctors should be acting as as the police
interrogating the patients when they're seeking care is it's misaligned
with public health and community health principles. Absolutely.
Dr Jamil A parrot is an O b g y n and president and CEO of Physicians
for Reproductive Health. I appreciate your time and your insights.