A Deadly Legacy: How Abortion Bans Are Putting Mothers at Risk
Delayed Care, Silent Deaths
Since the fall of Roe v. Wade, state lawmakers have implemented abortion bans that are having a chilling effect on maternal health. Resources once readily available to women facing pregnancy complications are now riddled with delays and uncertainty, resulting in tragic – and preventable – deaths. The latest casualty in this disturbing trend was Porsha Ngumezi, a Texan mother who died after suffering a miscarriage.
Ngumezi’s death highlights a disturbing pattern. When Ngumezi began hemorrhaging after a miscarriage in June 2023, she was denied timely medical care due to Texas‘ restrictive abortion legislation.
Doctors delayed providing a procedure called dilation and curettage (D&C), opting instead to administer medication to stop the bleeding. Ngumezi died three hours after she arrived at the hospital. Sadly, medical experts who reviewed Ngumezi’s case confirmed she could potentially still be alive if she hadn’t been denied essential healthcare due to the state Legislature’s bans.
Ngumezi’s story is a tragic, chilling reminder of the tangible human cost of these abortion bans.
It is not an isolated incident. ProPublica, the investigative journalism organization has uncovered at least five documented cases of maternal death linked to
Texas’ anti-abortion laws.
Silencing the Truth
The tragic consequences of these laws extend beyond preventing timely medical intervention, often hindering vital investigations into the truth behind maternal deaths.
After ProPublica reported on Ngumezi’s death, Georgia reacted with a chilling decision. The state dissolved its Maternal Mortality Review Committee, which was established to investigate maternal deaths and provide recommendations to reduce further tragedies.
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What are the implications of Georgia dissolving its Maternal Mortality Review Committee in relation to the state’s abortion ban and its impact on investigating maternal deaths?
A Deadly Legacy: How Abortion Bans Are Putting Mothers at Risk
**Joining us today is Dr. Alex Reed, a leading expert in maternal health and reproductive rights.**
**Host:** Dr. Alex Reed, thank you for joining us. Your work sheds light on the devastating consequences of abortion bans on mothers.
Can you tell our viewers about the case of Porsha Ngumezi and how it exemplifies the larger problem we’re facing?
**Dr. Alex Reed:** Porsha’s story is heartbreaking and unfortunately not unique. As a result of Texas’ restrictive abortion laws, Porsha, who was suffering from a miscarriage, was denied the timely D&C procedure she needed.
This delay, directly caused by the legal restrictions surrounding abortion care, tragically led to her death. Studies like the one from Johns Hopkins University [[1](https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/analysis-suggests-2021-texas-abortion-ban-resulted-in-increase-in-infant-deaths-in-state-in-year-after-law-went-into-effect)]are showing a correlation between these bans and increased infant mortality, hinting at the systemic issues at play.
**Host:** And it seems like these laws are not only delaying crucial care but also preventing proper investigation into these tragedies.
What do you make of Georgia’s decision to dissolve its Maternal Mortality Review Committee following ProPublica’s reporting on maternal deaths related to the state’s abortion ban?
**Dr. Alex Reed:** This is deeply concerning. These committees play a vital role in understanding the causes of maternal deaths and recommending policies to prevent future tragedies.
By dissolving the committee, Georgia is sending a message that they are more invested in silencing the truth than in protecting the lives of mothers.
**Host:** What can be done to address this crisis?
**Dr. Alex Reed:** We need comprehensive reproductive healthcare accessible to all, including safe and legal abortions.
We also need policies that prioritize maternal health and well-being, strong data collection and analysis to understand the scope of the problem, and transparent investigations into maternal deaths.
Most importantly, we need to listen to the voices and experiences of women like Porsha Ngumezi and demand accountability from our elected officials.
