🔥”Let’s light some fires,” says Amanda Zurawski.🔥 The Texas woman—who was denied lifesaving abortion care in 2022—lent her name, and the last year and a half of her life, to a lawsuit fighting her state's cruel ban. In Zurawski v. State of Texas, the court had heard from 20 women who, like her, had been refused help while experiencing pregnancy complications—women who had hemorrhaged, been forced to carry babies without skulls, or nearly died. And yet, last week, the justices still ruled not to change or amend Texas’s law, which has forced doctors to deny patients vital medical care out of fear of prosecution. The decision was heartbreaking for Zurawski, who notes that the ruling didn’t even bother to name most of her fellow plaintiffs. “They don’t even look at us as human beings,” she says. But she’s also motivated—and determined to make change, noting the fact that three of the justices on the Texas high court are up for reelection. And, as she tells Cindi Leive in our newsletter today, she's exploring a run for office. “Zurawski ’26 is probably something you’ll see.” Read their full conversation: https://lnkd.in/eJbq-8tT
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Reproductive Justice and Public Health Executive⠀| Author of "Black Women’s Reproductive Health and Sexuality: A Holistic Public Health Approach™"
Today, I spoke on the Supreme Court steps as part of my ongoing fight to protect Black maternal health. The Supreme Court is currently hearing oral arguments on the Idaho v. United States and Moyle v. United States cases. In 1986, Congress passed the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA) to ensure public access to emergency services regardless of race or ability to pay. EMTALA also addressed pregnant people requiring emergency care. And now that Idaho criminalized abortion in 2022, extremists are advocating to exclude pregnant people from EMTALA’s protections. This case will decide if state abortion bans take precedence over almost four decades of EMTALA’s commonsense healthcare protections and if states can mandate doctors to refuse treatment to patients with emergency pregnancy complications. As a Black woman, I know all too well that we have the highest maternal mortality rate in the United States. One can only imagine how many more Black women will lose their lives if the Supreme Court rules to remove EMTALA’s protections for pregnant people. It is clear this case is about imposing power over pregnant people’s bodies, rather than saving pregnant people’s lives. It is an affront to our human rights and human dignity and an attempt to stifle our voices. I encourage #ReproductiveJustice advocates to stay vigilant. Organize voter registration efforts, contact state legislators and demand they protect their constituents’ bodily autonomy. And never let them silence our voices.
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⚠️Brazil’s speaker disregards House rules in a dangerous way Last week, Brazil’s House approved a motion to fast-track a bill that equates the penalty for abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy to the crime of simple homicide, even in cases where the procedure is permitted by Brazilian law (that is, rape, risk to the woman’s life, and fetal anencephaly). Initially proposed by evangelical legislator Sostenes Cavalcante, the bill was co-signed by 33 congress members — more than half belonging to Jair Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party. The approval of the urgency motion itself was contentious. Per House rules, these requests must be approved by a simple majority on the floor. But House Speaker Arthur Lira imposed a symbolic vote, in which there is no roll-call, and did not announce which request was about to be voted on. This move represents the most blatant violation of House internal rules by Mr. Lira during his four-year speakership — a period that was already marked by consecutive and serious rules violations. 🔗Read more in our full article by Beatriz Rey here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dKDezEyB #Congress #Politics #Brazil
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6x Patented AI for Life Sciences | OM1 Senior Director RWE and AI Solutions Architect | Clinical Trial Participant, Blanket Fort Builder, and Random Kindness Nerd | *All Opinions My Own*
Women aren’t livestock. Any man who is 100% against abortion needs to 100% get a vasectomy. Hell, if we’re really trying to eliminate abortion, how about a government mandate on vasectomies at birth: - They’re reversible! - They’re minimally invasive! - No hormone adjustments needed! - Recovery time is negligible with a bag of frozen peas! Oh, that sounds like massive government overreach? Forcing men to undergo a medical procedure against their will and prosecuting anyone who doesn’t comply with attempts to regulate their *internal organs*? Serena Williams almost died in childbirth, a woman at the literal PEAK of human fitness. Pregnancy is hard AF even when it isn’t deadly (and it’s still far too deadly). Find another issue to put all your energy behind. Foster care would be a great start. Prison reform that treats inmates like humans. Infrastructure and climate resiliency. There are many ways to save lives. Stop punishing women because it’s more convenient to “save the babies!” than it is to help the adults and children who are here right now. #FFS #ForcedBirth #NotYourBroodMare https://wapo.st/3wa4JIL
Texas man files legal action to probe ex-partner’s out-of-state abortion
washingtonpost.com
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In our latest op-ed for The Hill our experts shed light on the true colors of the anti-abortion agenda, and spoiler, there’s nothing "pro-life" about it. Our Acting Co-CEO Destiny Lopez and VP for Public Policy Kelly Baden illustrate this analyzing recent restrictive policies and court decisions. These include Alabama’s ruling imperiling IVF care, Florida’s 6-week ban, Arizona’s impending total ban and now Idaho’s attempt to ban abortion in emergency situations that will soon be reviewed by the US Supreme Court. These actions emphasize the stark truth of the anti-abortion movement: that overturning Roe was just the beginning for the anti-abortion movement. Their goal? To ban abortion entirely, regardless of the situation. Dive into the details in our full op-ed: https://gu.tt/49JTcNY
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Content warning: Graphic imagery Did you know over 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck with next to nothing in savings? That's why, for the majority of American families, suddenly coming up with thousands of dollars to fly out of state for emergency health care is out of the question. For our client Samantha Casiano, who's earning $15.80 an hour and raising four children in a mobile home, the cost of an out-of-state abortion to terminate a pregnancy with fatal complications was simply out of her reach. Instead, Texas's extreme abortion ban forced Samantha to carry her doomed pregnancy to term and then watch her baby Halo die a painful, traumatizing death. Economic inequality in the US is already at an all-time high. Abortion bans force low-income people to endure unspeakable trauma—unnecessary trauma—at the hands of the state. We can do better. We MUST do better. If you're outraged, it's time to take action. Join the fight today: https://bit.ly/46cLzyh
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I’ve had conversations with patients who are understandably anxious about what the ruling could mean for their own families. For now, you probably don’t need to worry about this in our state. Oregon isn’t trying to pass any kind personhood legislation, nor does it seem likely that that will happen anytime soon. As of February 2024 three states already have something enacted around fetal personhood. Twelve states have introduced bills for the legislation session, and one has been blocked by the courts (for now). There is also ongoing concern on the national level. Depending on the next election cycle, a national abortion ban could be in the works, and that could also come along with personhood legislation. In 2023 a bill was introduced called the Life at Conception Act and was co-signed by 125 Republicans. There hasn’t been any movement on that bill since it was introduced, but it is there and has no protections for IVF. Unfortunately, since the Dobbs decision, there is ultimately no such thing as a truly “safe” state anymore. Call your legislators and let them know how you feel. Check out: DFF PAC Resolve.org ASRM
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