Candi Miller’s story is similar to several narratives we received describing patients who were very fearful of seeking care in their home state where an abortion ban was in effect. In one narrative, a clinician described a patient having a miscarriage.

The clinician wrote, “She stated she was too scared to go to the hospital or her regular ob/gyn to confirm [the miscarriage] due to current news and knowledge that her ob/gyn was openly religious and anti-choice.”

Instead, the patient flew to another state where abortion was legal to be evaluated, where it was found she was no longer pregnant. She was fortunate that she had the resources to fly to a place where she felt comfortable seeking care.

Ms. Miller’s case is also similar to several narratives we received where patients had underlying medical problems that made it dangerous for them to continue a pregnancy, yet they were unable to receive an abortion in their home state with an abortion ban.

While pregnancy is often joyous, it can also be very dangerous—and pregnant people who get sick can get very sick very quickly. When care is delayed or denied due to bans on abortion—even if that’s due to confusion around the law…

… or when the threat of criminalization is so high that it makes patients fearful of seeking medical care, it is not surprising that some patients will get very sick and some will die. This is not how medical care should be provided in the United States in 2024.

It was such a pleasure to speak at Milken Institute SPH and to be honored as the 2024 Edward N. Brandt, Jr. Memorial Lecturer. Thank you!

My first dissertation paper is out! 🎉 What does it look like to use Black-women-defined frameworks to interpret and illuminate our distinct experiences of harm during perinatal care? sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

The parts I’ve read of Renee Bracey Sherman’s new book are so inspiring. Can’t wait to read the whole thing!

As I told CNN, “The doctors can treat the patient presenting with bleeding or an infection without knowing whether the patient took medications or not.” We don’t need to ask. cnn.com/2024/09/20/hea…