During Tuesday's presidential debate, Vice President Kamala Harris said pro-life state laws could harm pregnant women. Being denied necessary medical care In a medical emergency. This is a common misconception. Abortion Law For example, in my home state of Texas, there have been several tragic cases of women suffering pregnancy complications and the state of Texas has been wrongly blamed.
Recent high-profile examples include Kylie Thurman and Kelsey Norris de la Cruz. Experienced Ectopic pregnancyIt is a potentially life-threatening condition in which a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus.
If untreated, the condition can lead to the woman's death. Available treatments include methotrexate (an injection) and surgery to remove the non-viable pregnancy. Methotrexate does have risks, and even in ideal circumstances, surgery may be required after its use.
Both women Federal submission Litigation They are suing the hospital, alleging that current Texas law did not allow them to use methotrexate early, forcing them to undergo surgical treatment, including removing their fallopian tubes, and that the psychological trauma and loss of fertility they endured would have been avoided if Texas' law had not existed.
As an obstetrician-gynecologist, I am deeply touched by these stories. Though I have not had the opportunity to read their medical records, I have treated many patients in Texas who have received the frightening diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, both before and after the current law was passed. I sympathize with the profound emotional and physical impact this diagnosis has on my patients.
But equally heartbreaking is the unfortunate, false narrative that surrounds these two stories: that Texas abortion laws prevented doctors from treating pregnancy complications quickly.
in fact, Texas Law It explicitly excludes the treatment of ectopic pregnancy from the definition of abortion, stating that “an act intended to remove an ectopic pregnancy is not an abortion.” Texas Medical Board The exclusion list for ectopic pregnancy echoes this trend. Texas Supreme Court Decision This further reinforces the fact that doctors are not legally restricted from providing life-saving treatment to pregnant women facing complications.
Texas law is Providing incentives for doctors Delaying treatment to confirm the diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy is fraught with many problems. The premise of this argument is that it would be reasonable for a physician to act before confirming the diagnosis in the first place. If obstetrician-gynecologists practiced in this manner, they could end up terminating normal, healthy pregnancies without the mother's consent. I reject the premise that such an approach was necessary or justifiable before the current law was enacted. In my experience, there has been no need to change our approach to the treatment of ectopic pregnancies after state laws were enacted.
I believe unity and respectful dialogue is the best approach to addressing Texas law. It would be extremely beneficial for me and my obstetrician-gynecologist colleagues to have proper guidelines from an organization like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on how to practice good, lawful medicine in our state. Instead, the organization only offers political rhetoric, as in this example. Recent Breaking NewsThey argued that the Texas law would create “uncertainty” for hospitals and “impede treatment” for women with ectopic pregnancies.
Instead of focusing on inaccurate stories, it is my opinion as a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist that patients should be empowered with accurate information about the compassionate, life-saving care they deserve under current law. Texas law requires excellent care for both fetal and maternal patients without the use of induced abortions. Inaccurate portrayals like the one above create fear and mistrust among health care providers and patients.
It's time to put politics aside and prioritise women and their wellbeing.
Jayaprabhu Sudheer, MD, is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist based in Texarkana, Texas.
