In the wake of the anti-abortion legislation we’ve seen from Utah, Indiana, Florida, Texas, and multiple other states, people across the country are forced once again to examine their beliefs around the legality and morality of the issue, especially in light of the upcoming elections. This is the country’s 43rd year after Roe v. Wade, and we have seen the strictest abortion restrictions ever be proposed, passed, and signed into law.
As a native of Indiana and an OB/GYN, I am particularly outraged by my state’s recent efforts, which prohibit abortion for genetic abnormality. I described the bill’s impact on my practice and patients in an opinion essay for the Washington Post. I also spoke at a Rally for Women’s Rights, representing my view of the effect on the medical profession and doctor-patient relationship.
My husband and I discussed the possible impact on our family, our livelihood, our safety. We prepared for an onslaught of insults and threats, criticisms of both my work and my character, and fearing for my future. Together, we decided it was worth the risk.
The response has been incredible and not at all what I expected.
The outpouring of support, love, and, most importantly, of women sharing their stories is overwhelming. Both publicly and privately, women who have chosen abortion are coming forward in defense of this medical option and in support of the women who need it. Women who kept their experience a secret are now speaking out to tell their stories and share their suffering. I initially thought myself brave for standing in opposition to this legislation, but was quickly humbled by the strength and solidarity they demonstrated.
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The Guttmacher Institute reports that 1 out of 3 women will choose abortion in their lives, meaning that everyone knows someone who has made this choice. Missouri legislators want to obtain and publish a list of women who have had an abortion. Knowing that, can you imagine how long that list would be? Or how embarrassing it would be for those shaming women for choosing abortion to find that they know dozens if not hundreds of people on that list? (We won’t even go into the federal legal consequences of the egregious HIPPA breach.)
These attacks – and the incredible responses – are happening all over the country. While out-of-touch legislators attempt to restrict reproductive rights, women are standing up with compelling, selfless stories reflecting the exact opposite of the “baby-killing, careless sinners” that are portrayed in anti-abortion propaganda.
Image Description: A crowd of people dressed in cool weather gear pack a plaza in Spring as deep and wide as the field of view. They hold signs with slogans such as “I *heart* reproductive rights”, “Women’s Health Matters”, and “It’s my future.” Image Credit: Courtney Brooks, photographer
We must listen to those who have lived this nightmare and fight for the absolute need for this medical option. There are nuanced medical complexities that cannot be summed up in an online comment or line-in-the-sand mentality. Medicine is called an art because it is about the real, complicated people and their messy lives, not about the doctor’s opinions or my governor’s beliefs. Our message of the necessity of reproductive choice and autonomy is best heard as a unified voice, amplified by the massive crowds demanding respect for reproductive rights.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Katherine McHugh, MD, is a practicing obstetrician who recently joined IJFAB Blog as a contributor. This is her inaugural post. Welcome, Dr. McHugh.
