Letter to the Editor: Let’s work towards making essential healthcare, including abortion care, accessible to all

Abortion is essential to healthcare. Denying a person an abortion leads to health risks, up to and including the death of the pregnant person. 

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate out of all high-income countries, per an analysis published by the Commonwealth Fund in June 2024. Additionally, the maternal mortality rate for states with abortion bans is higher in comparison to states without abortion bans.

Anti-abortion activists will use terms like “after birth” and “late-term abortions.” These terms are not meant to describe a pregnancy that is ready for delivery. Abortions that occur late in pregnancy are usually the result of serious complications that put the life of the pregnant person at risk. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 5.8% of reported abortions in 2020 took place in weeks 14 to 20 of pregnancy, and 0.9% occurred in the 21^st week or later. Less than 1% of abortions in the United States in 2021 were performed at or after 21 weeks. 

Imagine being in that 1% and living in a state with abortion bans.

You may have excitedly shared the news with your family and friends, picked out names for the baby, put the ultrasound picture on your refrigerator and started counting down to the days of the baby’s arrival. Imagine after all that planning you learn your life is now at risk, the fetus won’t survive after birth and you have a decision to make. However, that decision is not yours to make because the government has banned specific types of medical care, leaving you with limited options. 

Amendment 3 represents a revision of Article 1 of the Missouri Constitution by adding a new Section 36, which will be known as “The Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative.” The government cannot infringe on a person’s right to make and carry out decisions relating to their reproductive health care. The person’s reproductive rights cannot be interfered with. This revision does not state unlicensed providers would be allowed to perform abortions. Providers must still follow regulations and the law when practicing medicine. 

This full article is available here.

The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) says the average number of victims of rape or sexual assault at the age of 12 or older in the United States is 463,634 per year. Age does not prevent rape or sexual assault. Age does not prevent incest. Any pregnant person, no matter their age, should have the right to discuss and make decisions regarding their medical care with their physician without government interference. 

A D&C (dilation and curettage) is a surgical procedure that can be used (but not limited to) for an abortion or removing pregnancy tissue after a miscarriage. A KFF Health News article dated May 2 says abortion bans can limit care for people who experience a miscarriage for reasons such as the procedures and medications used to treat a miscarriage can be the same for abortions.

If the abortion ban language is not clear or bans these types of services, then the treating provider would be forced to determine how best to treat a patient within the confinement of the ban. Imagine discovering you are bleeding during your pregnancy while you live in a state with an abortion ban. You travel to an emergency room for treatment, but the physicians must work with their legal department to determine if they legally can provide you with medical care.

When people face barriers to attaining safe, geographically reachable and timely abortions, then they will often resort to unsafe abortions. A World Health Organization report dated May 17 said unsafe abortions can result in physical and mental health complications and financial and social burdens.

Banning abortions does not stop abortions from occurring. 

I encourage everyone to take a moment and do research on topics that can and will have an impact on every person’s healthcare and rights such as abortion healthcare and IVF. When reviewing a topic of interest, it is always best to review information from multiple sources and to ensure those sources are indisputably a subject matter expert on the topic (for example, medical health care information is best informed by medical care organizations such as but not limited to American Medical Association, World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control).

Let’s work towards making essential healthcare, including abortion care, accessible to everyone. Vote for the candidates who support reproductive healthcare on your November ballot. For those with a Missouri ballot, also vote yes on Amendment 3 on your November ballot.

Carrie Bross
Quincy, Ill.