Doctors, Patients Decry Tennessee's Abortion Ban

Group speaks out on second anniversary of state's near-total ban on abortion

A group of doctors and patients affiliated with the healthcare advocacy group Protect My Care detailed the harms caused by Tennessee's abortion ban. The group raised the issue on the second anniversary of the ban taking effect following the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision which overturned Roe v. Wade and left regulation of abortion completely up to state governments.

In a statement released to the media, members cataloged the impacts to both those seeking healthcare and those providing it.

Dr. Heather Maune, MD, a board-certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist practicing in Nashville said, "“In the almost two years since this law went into effect, we have heard countless stories of pregnant patients who have been required to leave Tennessee, their friends, their family, and their healthcare providers, to receive the healthcare they desperately needed. My exam rooms have become a place of further sadness during these already traumatizing experiences only made worse by my inability to provide appropriate care in Tennessee."

Allie Phillips, who had to travel out-of-state for a medically necessary abortion due to her daughter’s fatal fetal anomaly diagnosis said, "Knowing I have a daughter and husband I need to live for, we made the very difficult decision to terminate. Instead of grieving what was soon to be my lost child, I had to call states that allowed mid-term abortions, book flights, find hotels and arrange transportation.

"My story isn’t unique, there are thousands more women with stories just like mine. Politicians are making laws against something they know absolutely nothing about, and their laws have put countless women’s lives at risk, including mine."

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