Georgia Judge Lifts Six-Week Abortion Ban After Deaths of Two Women
Women in Georgia can once again legally obtain abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, following a judge’s strongly worded order this week tossing the state’s ban. Abortion clinics rushed to provide care after a judge rejected the state’s ban, an order that could soon be paused by a higher court.
Impact of Maternal Health Expert Findings
The new, if temporary, access is the latest in a wave of developments in the two weeks since ProPublica reported the deaths of Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller. These Georgia women died after they couldn’t access legal abortions and timely medical care in their state.
A committee of maternal health experts, including 10 doctors, deemed their deaths “preventable,” shifting the discussion about such outcomes from hypothetical to a new American reality. Data regarding these cases includes:
- Amber Nicole Thurman: Death deemed preventable by health experts after lack of access to legal care.
- Candi Miller: Death deemed preventable by health experts after lack of access to legal care.
Clinic Operations and Patient Outreach
Planned Parenthood’s four clinics in Georgia are fielding an influx of calls from within the state and those around it where most abortions remain banned. Workers are also calling patients they have previously had to turn away. “We’ve been able to get them rescheduled,” said Jaylen Black, vice president of marketing and communications for the organization’s Southeast region.
Legal Challenges and Political Climate
While Gov. Brian Kemp spoke out against the decision and Georgia’s attorney general quickly appealed it, providers told ProPublica they have immediately resumed offering such care. Monica Simpson, executive director of SisterSong, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging the ban, noted: “This isn’t something that the state will easily be able to sweep under the rug. It is now a national issue.”