How post-Roe laws are obstructing clinical care

May 19, 2023

A new report from Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health and TxPEP presents the preliminary findings of the Care Post-Roe Study. The report shows how health care providers have been unable to provide the standard of care in states with abortion bans since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade ten months ago, leading to harm and negative health outcomes for patients.

The report, Care Post-Roe: Documenting cases of poor-quality care since the Dobbs decision, shows that health care providers have seen increased medical problems, worsened pregnancy complications, an inability to provide time-sensitive care, and increased delays in obtaining care for patients in states with abortion bans. This has impacted both patients and providers and has deepened the existing inequities in the health care system for people of color.

These stories paint a stark picture of a post-Roe clinical landscape, detailing harm not only to patients, but also to health care providers who are now being forced to follow medically unnecessary laws that negatively impact their patients’ health. Medical harm occurring among pregnant people in states with abortion bans include increased medical problems and complications that could result in serious impairment and risk of death. Although not yet observable, long-term effects could include loss of fertility, chronic pain, heart attack and stroke risk related to hypertension, and effects on mental health. It's clear that abortion bans and tying providers’ hands impact every aspect of care and will have far-reaching and devastating consequences for years to come.