The Impact of Abortion Laws on Maternity Care in Red States
Obstetricians who handle high-risk pregnancies are leaving red states with restrictive abortion laws, leading to a decline in maternity care. Idaho has been particularly affected, with more than a dozen labor and delivery doctors, including five of the state's nine maternal-fetal experts, leaving or retiring. The departures are creating maternity care deserts and placing strains on remaining physicians. Similar trends are seen in other red states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Restrictive abortion laws are exacerbating the problem, limiting access to comprehensive obstetric and gynecologic care. The exodus of obstetricians is driven by concerns about criminal prosecution and the hostile political climate.