In rare circumstances, if a woman experiences a life-threatening complication during pregnancy, she needs immediate care.
If this occurs, treatment, including abortion, must be made available to her. Furthermore, this intervention is legal and necessary to save the woman’s life.
What About Treatment for Miscarriage and Ectopic Pregnancies?
Miscarriage and ectopic pregnancies are pregnancy complications that can occur. These complications are valid concerns for pregnant women.
- A miscarriage occurs when the pregnancy is no longer viable and stops developing normally.
- An ectopic pregnancy takes place outside the uterus.
Both these conditions can threaten the woman’s life if not cared for appropriately.
Women should rest assured, however, that treatment and care are legal for these conditions, too. More on this below.
Is Treatment Only Available in States That Legalize Abortion?
After the overturning of Roe v. Wade last summer, many women worry they will not be able to access necessary treatment for pregnancy complications, especially in states with strict bans or limited abortion access.
Fortunately, even states with strict abortion policies recognize that treatment for life-threatening conditions is necessary and legally allow medical interventions.
Intervention is not considered the same as an elective abortion service since it is life-saving. Furthermore, receiving care for these conditions is attainable in any qualified medical facility.
The University of Missouri’s School of Medicine clarifies this difference with miscarriage complications, “Induced abortions are commonly voluntary (elective)…in contrast to spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, in which the embryo or fetus is involuntarily expelled because of accidental trauma or disease.”
Furthermore, for ectopic pregnancies, Patricia Santiago-Munoz, M.D. states, “Ectopic pregnancy treatment is not the same as abortion… Logically, treatment cannot be generalized as ‘abortion,’ particularly because many women with ectopic pregnancies planned to conceive and wanted to carry their pregnancies to term.”
I Want To Learn More
Contact us today if you have questions about your options or wish to understand more about your rights to treatment and care. We can help you find the answers you deserve. All appointments are free and confidential, and we look forward to meeting you!