Ahead of Abortion Votes, Stories of Fatal Consequences of Bans Surface
On Tuesday, residents in 10 states will cast their votes on abortion-related ballot measures, with half of the proposals aimed at overturning current restrictions. The election comes amid intense debate and a series of reports detailing life-threatening situations resulting from stringent abortion laws.
Recent reports, including one from ProPublica, reveal cases where delays in miscarriage care have led to tragic outcomes. In Texas, ProPublica reported that two women, Josseli Barnica, 28, and Nevaeh Crain, 18, died after facing delays in care due to Texas’ strict abortion ban. In Georgia, ProPublica previously linked two other deaths to the state’s abortion restrictions. These incidents have sparked calls from healthcare professionals and advocates for reevaluating such laws. In an open letter to Texas policymakers, a group of OB-GYNs wrote that Barnica and Crain “should still be alive,” and they criticized the restrictions for preventing them from providing “the lifesaving care they need.”
Although Texas and Georgia are not among the 10 states with abortion-related ballot measures, reproductive rights advocates note that these stories resonate with voters nationwide. Sara Tabatabaie, executive director of Vote Pro-Choice, emphasized that voters have consistently supported abortion access through ballot measures. “Every time a voter has had the opportunity to protect abortion access via ballot measure, they have done it,” she stated.
ProPublica’s investigation detailed that Barnica died in 2021 from an infection after her doctors waited until no heartbeat could be detected to end her miscarriage. This delay occurred shortly after Texas implemented SB 8, which banned most abortions after about six weeks. The law has since been succeeded by an even more restrictive ban following the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision, which limits abortion to cases where the mother’s life is in immediate danger or a significant bodily function could be impaired. According to ProPublica, Crain’s death resulted from a similar delay in miscarriage care, leading to a fatal infection. Hospital representatives defended the care provided, while ProPublica’s findings cast doubt on whether the law allowed timely interventions.
Some Texas officials, however, dispute ProPublica’s findings. Amy O’Donnell, communications director for Texas Alliance for Life, claimed that the report included “misinformation” and that Texas physicians routinely provide life-saving abortions when necessary. ProPublica’s reporting cited medical records and family testimonies, yet the officials’ stance underscores ongoing disagreements over the interpretation of Texas’ abortion restrictions.
In Georgia, ProPublica previously reported on the deaths of Amber Thurman, 28, and Candi Miller, 41, who reportedly struggled to receive timely medical care after encountering complications with abortions. Thurman, facing a rare complication after taking abortion pills, was delayed in care due to the state’s “heartbeat” abortion law, which bans abortion after early signs of fetal cardiac activity. Miller died after trying to manage her abortion alone, reportedly fearful of Georgia’s abortion laws. ProPublica reviewed autopsy and medical records and spoke with families to confirm the details.
Advocates for reproductive rights argue these cases represent only a fraction of the lives impacted by abortion bans. Jaylen Black, vice president of marketing communications for Planned Parenthood Southeast, highlighted the impact on families: “This is real life. Mothers have lost their lives. Their children now are growing up without their mothers because of our state’s abortion ban.”
However, anti-abortion-rights voices disagree with ProPublica’s conclusions. Dr. Ingrid Skop, a practicing OB-GYN in Texas and representative of the anti-abortion Charlotte Lozier Institute, argued that these deaths reflect “substandard medical care and fearmongering,” claiming that her ability to provide emergency care hasn’t changed under Texas law.
The stakes are particularly high in states with strict abortion bans or restrictive gestational limits. Key ballot measures in Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota could roll back some of the nation’s strictest abortion policies. South Dakota and Missouri currently enforce near-total abortion bans, while Florida prohibits most abortions after about six weeks, and Nebraska and Arizona restrict access after 12 and 15 weeks, respectively, with narrow exceptions.
Florida’s measure faces a unique challenge, requiring 60% of the vote to pass. Still, Tabatabaie and Vote Pro-Choice remain hopeful about the outcome. “We’re feeling really good heading into Election Day,” she said, expressing optimism for the growing pro-choice momentum in the U.S.
This election presents an opportunity for voters to shape abortion access in their states, with reproductive rights and public safety on the line.
