“How dead do we have to be to get an abortion?”: A woman who was denied an abortion asks the U.S. Supreme Court
Synopsis
At 15 weeks pregnant with twins, Lauren Miller learned one fetus would likely die before they were born from a fatal chromosomal condition—and if she continued the deeply-wanted pregnancy, she could put her life and the surviving twin’s life at risk. But under Texas law, Lauren couldn’t get the abortion care doctors recommend. So she left the state and flew to Colorado for the care she needed.
Afterward, Lauren submitted a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, describing how Texas’s abortion ban endangered her and her baby’s health. The court was considering whether abortions could qualify as emergency medical care, and she hoped that sharing her story would help them understand just how necessary abortions like hers are. Then she listened as justices debated how sick she would have needed to be to qualify for an exception, and she wondered, if she didn’t qualify for an exception, who could?
Lauren spoke with Abortion in America in Austin, Texas to bring greater attention and awareness to the experiences of people living in states with abortion bans.
It was appalling to listen to a U.S. Supreme Court Justice debate which organs I needed.
Indiana OB-GYN: Patients aren’t getting the care they need because of abortion bans
His wife almost died because of Texas’ abortion ban. He hopes more men talk about the harms of them.
