| Description |
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court issued the Dobbs decision, which no longer grants; abortion to be a constitutionally protected right for patients. This decision caused an overturn of; Roe v. Wade, which has had unprecedented consequences for patients and medical providers.; The literature reviewed for this policy analysis suggests that the policy change did not account; for many aspects of healthcare. There have been several articles published by providers; regarding the challenges of navigating care for their patients in restrictive abortion states.; Personal stories of patients have emerged regarding how their experiences with the healthcare; system have changed when attempting to access reproductive care services. The areas of policy; analyzed include an overall background of abortion laws, state and federal concerns, legal; concerns of providers, patient effects, and retention and recruitment of obstetric and gynecologic; specialties. Studies analyzed show that the Dobbs decision and subsequent restrictive state; abortion legislation has increased pregnancy-related mortality and illness due to delayed care for; women, including increased travel times for abortion and decreased access to healthcare. There; have been several adverse outcomes to healthcare; these include a potential decrease in access to; contraceptives, under-identification of sexual abuse victims, increase in ethnic disparities,; socioeconomic concerns, and legal implications for infertility treatments in certain states. Future; implications include increased involvement of healthcare providers in policy development,; comprehensive sexuality education for restrictive states, protected reproductive care for women; in their local states, and clear guidelines for healthcare providers assisting women with; life-threatening disorders while pregnant. |
