A restrictive abortion ban passed by Iowa GOP lawmakers went into effect this summer, which outlaws abortion in the state after just 6-weeks — before most people even know they’re pregnant.
As one of the strictest bans in the country, Iowans are just beginning to understand the negative consequences of the ban. Across the U.S., there are horrific stories of couples seeking care for a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy and being turned away from hospitals, forcing women to bleed out in parking lots. Or stories like Amber Nicole Thurman’s — a woman who died after suffering from an infection while pregnant. Her Atlanta hospital was well-equipped to treat her, but she was denied care because of Georgia’s abortion ban. Another woman in Texas died after waiting 40 hours for treatment of a miscarriage because of the abortion ban in Texas.
Stories like these are frightening and becoming all too common as more and more states enact restrictive abortion bans. Frankly, these stories are now our new reality in Iowa because of the GOP’s new abortion ban. Strict bans like Iowa’s, with complicated and vague language, cause healthcare providers to make impossible decisions: either treat the patient or potentially break the law and end up in jail.
Every pregnancy is unique and can be complicated or even life-threatening to a woman. Sometimes, people make decisions that we might not make for ourselves. But here’s the bottom line: politicians are never more qualified than patients and their medical providers to make tough, personal medical decisions.
Unfortunately, the GOP’s abortion ban here in Iowa will also have some significant unintended consequences: a growing maternal healthcare crisis in our state as more and more providers leave the state.
- A recent American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology report found that Iowa has the lowest per capita ratio of OB/GYN providers.
- 33% of Iowa’s counties are considered maternity care deserts, with almost 70,000 women living in a county without a single obstetric provider.
- A DHHS report found that 31% of Iowa counties have closed OB/GYN clinics.
It might be hard to believe, but Iowa’s law could get even worse and put more lives at risk if things don’t change at the Statehouse. Last session, House GOP lawmakers passed a bill that defined “personhood†in the Iowa Code, stating that “life begins at conception.†While it didn’t make it into law, Republican leaders and special interests have already said it’s a top priority next year, which could put access to healthcare like birth control and IVF at risk.
Reproductive freedom isn’t a partisan issue. A huge majority of Iowans support reproductive freedom and want to make their own decisions about their bodies with their family and doctors and without interference from politicians.
After nearly a decade in power in Des Moines, Reynolds and GOP lawmakers have just gone too far. We’ve heard it time and time again from Iowans.
Iowa Democrats believe it’s well past time to put politics aside and put people first again.
For Iowans who are deeply frustrated with politics today, there’s an opportunity on Tuesday to bring some balance back to the Statehouse.
Vote people over politics in Statehouse races on November 5.
About the Author
State Representative Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights serves the 32nd District in the Iowa House and is the Iowa House Democratic Leader.
