Why Kaitlyn Kash’s story is so devastating for doctors like me
Synopsis
Physicians in Texas are warning that the state’s abortion ban puts both doctors and patients at risk. In an MSNBC op-ed, physician and health policy researcher Dr. Kavita Patel interviewed Kaitlyn Kash, an Austin mother whose doctor was unable to provide the information and care she needed due to Texas law despite a fatal fetal diagnosis. At 13 weeks, Kaitlyn learned her fetus had a rare skeletal disorder so severe that its bones could fracture from any movement during her pregnancy. Forced to leave Texas for an abortion in Kansas, she returned home without legal access to follow-up care. For providers like Dr. Patel, Kaitlyn’s story is an example of how abortion bans not only harm patients, but make doctors afraid of practicing medicine inside these states.
Each time I encounter these situations, one universal truth emerges: No one wants to find themselves in this vulnerable and heart-wrenching position. Sadly, depending on where you live, it could also be the difference between life or death.
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