Abortion Bans are Deadly

WASHINGTON, DC  — The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade more than two years ago exacerbated a public health crisis of maternal mortality. The reporting since then — particularly in Texas in the wake of S.B. 8 —  has made it clear that the crisis knows no bounds when it comes to harming pregnant people seeking health care services. 

This week, ProPublica’s groundbreaking reporting detailed the stories of Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, whose deaths under Georgia’s abortion ban were determined to be preventable by the Georgia Department of Public Health. The abortion ban’s limited exceptions have left doctors unclear on what care they can legally provide. These devastating reports of preventable losses follow too many other stories of people who have suffered and died as a result of the abortion bans now present in 22 states across the country, leaving 44% of U.S. women of reproductive age, plus trans and nonbinary people, without full control of their bodies.

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America: 

“Amber Thurman and Candi Miller should still be here. The reports of Black mothers losing their lives because of Georgia’s abortion ban is a cruel and devastating reminder of what we always knew to be true: Abortion bans make pregnancy more dangerous. 

“In a state with one of the highest maternal mortality rates for Black mothers, Georgia’s abortion ban has now left multiple children without their mothers. In both cases, the confusion, pain, and heartbreak were preventable. Everyone should be able to access the care they need to control their own bodies and lives, and no doctor should fear providing it.”

The abortion bans make pregnancy more dangerous because of harm to providers and patients:

• Providers are forced to leave states with bans. A recent report found that more than 35% of U.S. counties are considered “maternity care deserts” — and 1 in 3 U.S. counties does not have a single obstetric clinician. 
• Abortion bans also are leading to the closure of labor and delivery units, creating more gaps in the maternal health crisis at a time when the U.S. maternal mortality rate is the highest among developed nations.  
• Abortion bans are also making it harder to recruit young talent because people don’t want to work in states with abortion bans. Alabama, for example, saw a 20% decline in applications for residency programs.
• This year, the U.S Supreme Court refused to tell states they cannot ban emergency abortion care, despite this already being illegal under federal law, leaving access to emergency care for pregnant people across the country under threat. 

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With nearly 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.