NEW DATA: Pregnant Women are Dying at Higher Rates in States with Abortion Bans
Anti-abortion extremists continue to push banning despite data reinforcing that abortion bans are killing women
WASHINGTON, DC –– New data from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center spotlights how pregnant women are dying at higher rates in states with abortion bans. The study concludes that further restrictions on abortion may result in higher maternal deaths across the country.
“This research confirms what we have known all along: abortion bans are killing women and making pregnancy more dangerous across the country,” said Veronica Ingham, Managing Director of Free & Just. “We know that at least seven women have died because they were denied timely medical care in states with extreme abortion bans, and more lives will be lost. Instead of working to address the maternal mortality crisis across the country, Trump and his extremist allies are doing everything they can to ban abortion nationwide. The lawmakers pushing extreme abortion bans must answer to the families of those who died waiting for medical care.”
The stakes have never been higher. From weaponizing federal agencies to roll back access to medication abortion, which could leave as many as 64.5 million people across the country without access to care, to sneaking new national abortion restrictions into critical health care legislation – the consequences of attacks on reproductive freedom are deadly. Abortion bans are jeopardizing the lives of millions of women across the country, and Republicans want to go further and continue their crusade on abortion care at the federal level.
Bottomline: Abortion bans are killing women but that isn’t stopping extremists from launching new attacks on reproductive freedom. The Trump administration is pulling every lever at their disposal to ban abortion nationwide — even in states where it is legally protected — no matter the cost.
If you are interested in speaking to health care providers or patient storytellers who have received abortion care, please contact Kelly Rimar kelly@freeandjust.us and Malachi White malachi@freeandjust.us.
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