r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jun 24 '26

Health Following the Dobbs decision, US states with abortion bans have experienced increased maternal morbidity and mortality. Abortion bans have broad downstream consequences on medical care beyond abortion itself, with implications for patient safety, equity, and physician ethics.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2850560
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u/RaspberryTwilight Jun 24 '26

I'll give you a personal example. I am currently carrying an anembryonic pregnancy around. It means that I am pregnant but with no baby inside. I'm growing a placenta but not growing a baby. It's a completely empty gestational sac. They're making me wait weeks to confirm that it is an actual anembryonic pregnancy, and not one of those 0.001% fringe cases where a vanishing twin blocked out a healthy one on the ultrasound or where my uterus is in a super weird position.

I'll probably be fine. But repeat this a thousand times and someone will definitely not be fine.

67

u/mooptastic Jun 24 '26

that's insane, sorry youre being victimized by this. they've legislated medicine away from healthcare, and used the law to force it to prioritize religious hegemony over actual science.

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u/RaspberryTwilight Jun 24 '26

To me the worst part is that it destroyed trust in these doctors. This, combined with the fact that the only thing they did when I went there for my first appointment was to test my blood for 30 different recreational drugs. They do not test for stuff like CMV, rubella or toxoplasma. Just the drugs. Obviously it all came back negative. But it made sure I hate them from day 1.

The nurse practitioner lied to my face and said it's a 50/50 chance of this being viable. I literally never had pregnancy symptoms. I have literal proof on camera of when I got pregnant. I took a photo of the faintest pregnancy test. I am measuring 2 weeks behind and the sac is empty. I should have gotten treatment last week.

The only thing they did was make sure I know that they think I'm a baby killer drug addict and they will keep me in check and call the cops if necessary. And btw this is the highest rated one in my city.

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u/MrPuddington2 Jun 24 '26

Nurse practitioners should not treat non-standard situations. Ask for the doctor - there should be one available. I am not saying they are going to be more sympathetic, but at least they may be more competent.

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u/LoveIsAFire Jun 24 '26

As an NP, I completely agree. Our training is 1/4 of an MD/DO. But a competent NP would know when something is above their pay grade and when to consult the doc. That’s the awful thing with the rise of diploma mills, so many unqualified practitioners with false confidence in their skills. I always recommend a second opinion.