David Kashdan: Abortion restrictions are endangering women's health

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, red state legislatures have been busy outlawing abortions. Some prohibit abortion after 15 or 6 weeks; others simply ban it. Republican legislatures outlaw even transporting your own spouse or daughter to obtain an abortion elsewhere. In some states it is potentially illegal — and punishable — to "aid or abet" by loaning money for airfare, recommending a hotel, or even lending a sympathetic ear.That wasn't enough, so many legislatures have also gone after doctors. Not just doctors who perform abortions as their main business, but traditional OB-GYNs and family doctors who treat women with difficult pregnancies. Doctors face loss of license, fines and prison.Up to 30% of pregnancies end in miscarriages. There are a zillion things that can go wrong during a pregnancy. Proper medical treatment for ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, stillbirths (baby dies in the womb) and anticipated stillborn (baby cannot survive) are a lot like abortions.In Tennessee, the penalty for performing an abortion can be 15 years in prison. In some states, just discussing the option of an abortion can make the doctor liable, as can suggesting the patient travel to another state.These laws have distorted the way women receive routine medical care.When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, supporters claimed that now "the people can decide."Every state — liberal or conservative — presented with a referendum on abortion voted against restricting abortion rights: Montana, Michigan, Kentucky, California, Kansas and Vermont. Anti-abortion forces have given up on referenda. The concept of "letting people decide" is a mirage in the rear-view mirror.Instead, using gerrymandered districts, GOP-dominated legislatures pass anti-abortion laws over the opposition of citizens and the medical community. These poorly written laws fail to address the complexity of modern medical situations, and doctors find it impossible to know which patients qualify for an exception to the abortion ban.When there is uncertainty, doctors often err on the side of inaction, since that is less likely to get them targeted by a zealous prosecutor. This causes women's care to be delayed or refused. The anti-abortion legislators appear content with this miserable situation, even though delays or absent care can cause death.For example, if a mother's water breaks at 19 weeks, well before viability, doctors would normally terminate such a pregnancy to prevent inevitable infection from developing. But it is documented that in Texas and undoubtedly elsewhere, doctors have waited for an infection to occur and the fetus to die — days — before acting. That puts the mother's life at risk, and increases recovery time and medical costs.Consider the case of Deborah Dorbert and her husband, residing in Florida. The Dorberts were delighted when she became pregnant. Sadly, her baby was found to have Potter's syndrome, which causes numerous developmental issues, and such babies never survive more than a few of hours after birth.The Dorberts were refused an early abortion, forcing them to endure a full-length pregnancy even though an early abortion would reduce the mother's risk. Deborah spent nine months receiving joyful congratulations on being pregnant, but knowing that her child would quickly die upon birth. In fact, the child died 99 minutes after birth, and the distraught parents were left with bills totaling $25,000.Not surprisingly, medical groups find it increasingly difficult to attract family practice physicians and OB/GYNs in states with anti-abortion laws that cast confusion over medical decisions. Meanwhile, the need for OB/GYNs increases because more problematic pregnancies are forced to term.Doctors leave states where they can't practice good medicine.Even Cleveland Clinic, the world- famous hospital in Ohio, expects to lose medical staff if courts uphold Ohio's abortion ban.There are cases where nurses, radiologists and other medical staff have refused to work with patients who might be in need of abortion services, for fear of being criminalized.Because treatment of certain pregnancy issues is less commonly performed in states with abortion bans, medical students attending schools in those states may not get properly trained in those procedures. Many students will choose to attend school in states where doctors can practice medicine unfettered by politicians second-guessing their medical decisions from afar.I'm sure many anti-abortion proponents believe in what they are doing, but they should recall that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.