Abortion restrictions can harm women. Let's follow evidence, not ideology, in 2019.
Ushma Upadhyay, Opinion contributor
Published Jan. 21, 2019
As the Supreme Court's Jan. 22 Roe v. Wade decision turns 46 years old, state legislators across the country are planning more anti-abortion laws. Although supporters of these restrictions may claim that they are medically prudent, designed to protect patient health, the reality is they have no scientific basis.
One of the many types of abortion restrictions spreading across the country is a requirement that abortion providers have admitting privileges at a local hospital or that clinics have transfer agreements with a local hospital. Due to administrative barriers or anti-abortion sentiment, abortion facilities and clinicians often can’t get these admitting privileges. That leads to clinic closures, forcing women to leave the state to obtain an abortion and creating abortion deserts.