Abortion remains one of the most divisive issues on the ballot this election season, splitting the country along racial, political, and religious lines. Depending on the outcome in November, the future of abortion access could drastically change, placing women’s health and safety in jeopardy.
On this week’s episode of “Politics Explained with Natasha Alford,” we’re looking at how the rollback on abortion rights has impacted Black women.
The tragic case of Amber Thurman
Amber Thurman, a 28-year-old mother in Georgia, tragically lost her life following what should have been a routine medical procedure after taking abortion pills. Thurman sought help at Piedmont Henry Hospital in Stockbridge, Georgia, after she had a rare reaction to the pills when they didn’t expel all the fetal tissue from her body. A D&C or dilation and curettage procedure could’ve safely addressed the issue.
However, newly enacted laws in her home state of Georgia led medical staff to delay intervening, and by the time doctors provided assistance, it was too late. Thurman’s family is now left grieving and demanding answers, calling attention to the broader dangers posed by restrictive abortion laws. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing the family, and wants accountability from doctors at the hospital.
The case of another Black woman, named Kaitlyn Joshua, highlights how even when a woman intends to keep a pregnancy, abortion care may be necessary.
Joshua, a wife and mother, testified recently at the Democratic National Convention about how when she was having a miscarriage and sought treatment at the hospital, she was turned away from two emergency rooms in Louisiana.
“Because of Louisiana’s abortion ban, no one could confirm I was miscarrying. I was in pain, bleeding so much my husband feared for my life,” Joshua explained. “No woman should experience what I endured, but too many have.”
The legal backdrop: The fall of Roe v….
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