Senate report shows complicated ways abortion bans have harmed women
Longer wait times, increased medical expenses among the more predictable effects
A report compiled by U.S. Senators shows the corrosive impact that abortion bans have had across the country.
In 17 states, legislatures have enacted a total or near-total ban on this safe medical procedure. The report goes into detail about a range of ways that healthcare has been affected–from increased helicopter flights in Idaho to a shortage of OB/GYNs in states where abortion was restricted. Much of this has been covered in this newsletter, but it’s good to look at an official government document to show it again.
More than 23 million American women of childbearing age live in states with abortion bans.
“This is not a “great” outcome,” the report concludes. “Allowing certain states to outlaw abortion is endangering women’s health.”
In Idaho, emergency helicopter services have flown a woman to a nearby state once a week to get a medically necessary abortion. That costs nearly $70,000 for the family who uses it.
As I wrote yesterday, the report also indicated some doctors are reluctant to perform life-saving abortions because of the abortion bans. In situations where they can’t provide an abortion, they have to shop around to find another provider. That’s part of the transfer provision central to legal challenges over these laws.
In Texas, a study found that infant mortality increased by 12.9% in the year after the state’s six-week abortion ban took effect. The number of babies with severe conditions like congenital defects who died rose by 23%. Researchers believe that the sharp increase in infant mortality was caused by the rise in pregnancies with high risks for infant mortality that were carried to term after the ban was implemented. Infant deaths because of maternal pregnancy complications increased by 18% in Texas between 2021 and 2022, compared to 8% in the rest of the country.
Exceptions for rape and incest are unclear and have compelled victims to seek care in states that don’t have bans so they can avoid the process of getting medical clearance.
Clinics in Kansas and Illinois have had three-week wait times. In some states where abortion is legal, patients have taken up residence at hotels because of a fear that the abortion might bring complications and a concern that they wouldn’t be able to get the necessary post-care that they would need.
I plan on speaking to some of the experts quoted in the report to get further details.