Latest news with #Roe
Los Angeles Times
12 hours ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
AGs in California and other states lead campaign to defend reproductive rights
Democratic state attorneys general led by those from California, New York, and Massachusetts are pressuring medical professional groups to defend reproductive rights, including medication abortion, emergency abortions, and travel between states for health care in response to recent increases in the number of abortion bans. The American Medical Association adopted a formal position June 9 recommending that medical certification exams be moved out of states with restrictive abortion policies or made virtual, after 20 attorneys general petitioned to protect physicians who fear legal repercussions because of their work. The petition focused on the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology's certification exams in Dallas, and the subsequent AMA recommendation was hailed as a win for Democrats trying to regain ground after the fall of Roe v. Wade. 'It seems incremental, but there are so many things that go into expanding and maintaining access to care,' said Arneta Rogers, executive director of the Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice at the University of California-Berkeley's law school. 'We see AGs banding together, governors banding together, as advocates work on the ground. That feels somewhat more hopeful — that people are thinking about a coordinated strategy.' Since the Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion in 2022, 16 states, including Texas, have implemented laws banning abortion almost entirely, and many of them impose criminal penalties on providers as well as options to sue doctors. More than 25 states restrict access to gender-affirming care for trans people, and six of them make it a felony to provide such care to youth. That's raised concern among some physicians who fear being charged if they go to those states, even if their home state offers protection to provide reproductive and gender-affirming health care. Pointing to the recent fining and indictment of a physician in New York who allegedly provided abortion pills to a woman in Texas and a teen in Louisiana, a coalition of physicians wrote in a letter to the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology that 'the limits of shield laws are tenuous' and that 'Texas laws can affect physicians practicing outside of the state as well.' The campaign was launched by several Democratic attorneys general, including Rob Bonta of California, Andrea Joy Campbell of Massachusetts, and Letitia James of New York, who each have established a reproductive rights unit as a bulwark for their state following the Dobbs decision. 'Reproductive health care and gender-affirming care providers should not have to risk their safety or freedom just to advance in their medical careers,' James said in a statement. 'Forcing providers to travel to states that have declared war on reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ rights is as unnecessary as it is dangerous.' In their petition, the attorneys general included a letter from Joseph Ottolenghi, medical director at Choices Women's Medical Center in New York City, who was denied his request to take the test remotely or outside of Texas. To be certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, physicians need to take the in-person exam at its testing facility in Dallas. The board completed construction of its new testing facility last year. 'As a New York practitioner, I have made every effort not to violate any other state's laws, but the outer contours of these draconian laws have not been tested or clarified by the courts,' Ottolenghi wrote. Rachel Rebouché, the dean of Temple University's law school and a reproductive law scholar, said 'putting the heft' of the attorneys general behind this effort helps build awareness and a 'public reckoning' on behalf of providers. Separately, some doctors have urged medical conferences to boycott states with abortion bans. Anti-abortion groups, however, see the campaign as forcing providers to conform to abortion-rights views. Donna Harrison, an OB-GYN and the director of research at the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, described the petition as an 'attack not only on pro-life states but also on life-affirming medical professionals.' Harrison said the 'OB-GYN community consists of physicians with values that are as diverse as our nation's state abortion laws,' and that this diversity 'fosters a medical environment of debate and rigorous thought leading to advancements that ultimately serve our patients.' The AMA's new policy urges specialty medical boards to host exams in states without restrictive abortion laws, offer the tests remotely, or provide exemptions for physicians. However, the decision to implement any changes to the administration of these exams is up to those boards. There is no deadline for a decision to be made. The OB-GYN board did not respond to requests for comment, but after the public petition from the attorneys general criticizing it for refusing exam accommodations, the board said that in-person exams conducted at its national center in Dallas 'provide the most equitable, fair, secure, and standardized assessment.' The OB-GYN board emphasized that Texas' laws apply to doctors licensed in Texas and to medical care within Texas, specifically. And it noted that its exam dates are kept under wraps, and that there have been 'no incidents of harm to candidates or examiners across thousands of in-person examinations.' Democratic state prosecutors, however, warned in their petition that the 'web of confusing and punitive state-based restrictions creates a legal minefield for medical providers.' Texas is among the states that have banned doctors from providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth, and it has reportedly made efforts to get records from medical facilities and professionals in other states who may have provided that type of care to Texans. The Texas attorney general's office did not respond to requests for comment. States such as California and New York have laws to block doctors from being extradited under other states' laws and to prevent sharing evidence against them. But instances that require leveraging these laws could still mean lengthy legal proceedings. 'We live in a moment where we've seen actions by executive bodies that don't necessarily square with what we thought the rules provided,' Rebouché said. Sciacca writes for KFF Health News, a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.
Fast Company
2 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
The power of teamwork
Last year, Major League Baseball helped shine a spotlight on Birmingham, Alabama's historic Rickwood Field, which for decades was the home of the Birmingham Black Barons, a Negro Leagues team where Willie Mays got his start. The event was designed to celebrate the ballpark's storied past and honor the history of the Negro Leagues. The event's centerpiece was a regular-season matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants. Getting the relatively tiny—and not particularly modern—park ready for primetime took plenty of work. Enter BaAM Productions. 'Creativity is at the heart of what we do,' says Annemarie Roe, president of BaAM, '[whether that's] making an idea real or creating a concept that we can build on with our clients.' BaAM is no stranger to such high-profile events. In the past year alone, the company helped stage the NHL Draft at the Las Vegas Sphere, managed event construction for Super Bowl LVIII, and kicked off procurement and delivery planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But while BaAM's client list is impressive, the real story is in how it does its work. Its unique team-based approach to tackling events on a global stage is a key reason why BaAM has earned a spot on Fast Compan y's list of the Most Innovative Companies. The importance of transparency BaAM's team members wore many hats heading into the Rickwood Field game. They coordinated construction projects to help maintain the historic feel of the stadium while also meeting MLB's stringent requirements. They designed and integrated the fan experience and MLB-led visual elements across the three-day event. And they planned event operations with nearly 40 local vendors to provide production, hospitality, concessions, and other services. Through it all, each of the stakeholder groups collaborated closely, staying focused on the event as a whole—not just on their particular slice of the project. 'Transparent collaboration allows us to hit a new level of ideation and expertise,' Roe says. Inside BaAM, this transparency has a name: informed creativity. The concept originated through an internal branding exercise where the BaAM team was asked to imagine the company as a person. 'The top two characteristics were creativity and wisdom,' Roe says. 'This shared concept is one we've developed and continue to foster together as a group.' There's no 'I' in team To help ensure all BaAM teams are on the same page and working toward a shared outcome, the company borrowed a concept from team sports: the coach. At BaAM, this role is played by the director of people and culture, who 's available to all team members throughout the conception and realization of projects. 'The coach is there as a sounding board, a trainer, an observer, and someone who can call you out or congratulate you or prop you up,' Roe says. It makes sense that BaAM looks to sports for inspiration. Much of the company's work centers on sports, and Roe says observing what makes sports teams successful has informed how the company operates on many levels. 'We've had a lot of inspiration from the concept of team and the passion that happens in and around sports,' she says. 'Ultimately, it's that passion that gets us up in the morning and keeps us going.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
British lawmakers vote to decriminalize abortion for pregnant women while America cracks down
British lawmakers voted Tuesday to decriminalize abortion for the pregnant woman – in striking contrast to the crackdown on reproductive rights in the United States. Lawmakers voted by an overwhelming majority to invalidate Victorian-era legislation that makes it possible to prosecute a woman for ending her pregnancy in England and Wales, though medical professionals who help terminate a pregnancy beyond certain limits will still be breaking the law. Currently, abortion beyond the first 24 weeks of pregnancy is illegal in those two parts of the United Kingdom. Beyond that time limit, it is permitted in certain circumstances, such as when the mother's life is at risk. While abortions are common in England and Wales, women who terminate their pregnancy outside of existing restrictions face the threat of criminal investigation, arrest, prosecution and even imprisonment. Tuesday's vote – which amends a draft policing and crime law – seeks to remove those threats. The amended bill needs to pass through both chambers of the UK parliament before it can become law. The vast majority of Britons believe women should have the right to an abortion, according to YouGov surveys stretching back to 2019. The latest poll, conducted in April, showed that 88% of respondents supported that right. Britain's vote comes as its ally across the Atlantic has dramatically restricted abortion rights. Since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 – which had enshrined abortion as a constitutional right – many US states have introduced severe restrictions or outright bans on the practice. The changes have completely upended the landscape of reproductive health and choice in America. Louise McCudden, UK head of external affairs at MSI Reproductive Choices, a charity providing abortions, thinks there is a connection between Tuesday's vote and a 'hostile climate' toward abortion rights in the UK driven by the changes in the US. McCudden told CNN there had been an 'increase in activity from anti-choice groups outside (MSI) clinics' that feel 'emboldened' by the crackdown on abortion rights across the pond. 'On the rare occasions when you do see women who are suspected of ending a pregnancy over 24 weeks, they are invariably in extremely vulnerable situations,' she also said, noting that the women who had been investigated in the UK included domestic abuse survivors, potential trafficking survivors and women who'd had miscarriages and stillbirths. However, the UK's Society for the Protection of Unborn Children strongly condemned Tuesday's vote. 'If this clause becomes law, a woman who aborts her baby at any point in pregnancy, even moments before birth, would not be committing a criminal offense,' Alithea Williams, the society's public policy manager, said in a statement Tuesday. 'Now, even the very limited protection afforded by the law is being stripped away,' she added. CNN's Kara Fox contributed reporting.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tracking abortion laws across the United States
default The US supreme court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade may have abolished the national right to abortion, but the state-by-state battle for abortion rights is far from over. Since Roe was overturned in 2022, 12 states have enacted near-total abortion bans, while four states – Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and Iowa – have banned abortion past roughly six weeks of pregnancy. Other states have enacted laws or held ballot referendums to protect abortion rights. default In a handful of other states, the future of abortion is in flux due to legal challenges. In May 2025, for instance, the Missouri state supreme court effectively reinstated the state's abortion ban by vacating lower-court orders that had allowed abortion providers to offer the procedure. Missouri is one of 10 states that held votes on abortion-related ballot measures during the November 2024 elections, with seven of them approving amendments to either overturn bans or enshrine existing rights. All of this tumult has led to a deeply uneven abortion landscape, with access to abortion clinics cut off across much of the south and midwest but standing strong on both coasts. The map below shows where state abortion laws stand as of 28 May2025. default Sources: Abortion laws come from Center for Reproductive Rights, AbortionFinder and state statutes. Note: Women of reproductive age data comprises women aged 15-49 from the 2020 US census. Although people who are not women and outside of these age ranges can get pregnant, this demographic is an approximation of the number of people affected. Additional research and fact checking by Ava Sasani. • This tracker, first published on 28 June 2022 and created by Jessica Glenza with reporting by Poppy Noor, is being regularly updated to ensure that it reflects the current situation as best as possible. The most recent update will have been made at the date shown at the top of the article. Any significant corrections made to this or previous versions will continue to be footnoted below in line with Guardian editorial policy. • This tracker was amended on 21 August to correct the details for Minnesota; in 2023, the state significantly expanded its abortion protections.
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Health
- Toronto Star
Abortion clinics are closing, even in states where abortion is legal
The abortion funding system across the U.S. is battered three years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to enforce bans. An initial surge of donations has subsided, scores of clinics have closed and advocates fear that federal policy changes will result in more shutting down. 'We're all collectively struggling,' said Ramsie Monk, director of development at the Women's Health Centers of West Virginia and Maryland, which opened a clinic in 2023 in western Maryland after abortion was banned in West Virginia. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'I honestly don't know if it's a sustainable model,' said Mercedes Sanchez, executive director at the Cedar River Clinics in Washington. 'Clinics, providers, funds are all very committed to making sure people can access care, but it is definitely going to be more of a challenge.' Bans in some states mean travel has become a bigger part of obtaining an abortion, bring a host of costs. A mitigating factor is that most abortions are now done with medications. They can be prescribed by telehealth, including to women in states where abortion is banned. But they can't be used in every case, some women prefer procedures, and there are challenges to the legality of pills and how they're prescribed. Abortion isn't funded like other health care Not all private insurance plans cover abortions. Federal taxpayer funds cannot be used for abortions, but state Medicaid funds cover them in some places. And a network of private funding helps cover procedures or travel and other costs. The increase in contributions that followed the 2022 Supreme Court ruling has declined for most funds and clinics. 'The resources have not kept pace with demand continuing to surge,' Lynn McCann-Yeh, co-executive director of the Baltimore Abortion Fund. With bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy now being enforced in 12 states and bans at about six weeks' gestation being enforced in four others, travel for abortion has become more frequent. Costs for each trip can include plane tickets or gas for long drives, meals, hotels and child care — all on top of clinic fees. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Last year, the National Abortion Federation's hotline fund reduced the portion of clinic costs it covers for people with financial needs to 30% from 50% so it could help more people as demand increased. The group's says travel costs now average over $1,000 per person. Travel needs have made the job for abortion funds not only more expensive but more intricate. Before the Texas ban started in 2021, Fund Texas Choice got about 40 calls a month, executive director Anna Rupani said. Now, it's over 200. And assisting each caller can take more time because they involve arranging flights and hotels, not just lining up rides to clinics in the state. Some people cobble together money from a hodgepodge of groups to pay for an abortion. Grace McGarry, who manages the phone line for Whole Woman's Health, which operates five clinics across the U.S., said he talked to a patient who was getting aid from nine different groups. Clinics have closed, even in states without new bans Since the Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, I Need An A, which operates a website dedicated to providing information about abortion options, has tallied 105 clinics closing. Twenty-nine closures were in states where abortion is now banned at all stages of pregnancy. Eleven were in states where it's banned at about six weeks' gestation, before many women realize they're pregnant. But 65 of the closures were in other states. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW At the same time, 34 clinics have opened anew or moved to states where abortion is legal. 'Each and every one of those has been a blow to that community that hasn't been refilled,' said Rebecca Nall, the founder of I Need An A. Planned Parenthood North Central States announced in May that it would close eight locations in Iowa and Minnesota while expanding services at some other clinics. Ruth Richardson, the CEO of that Planned Parenthood affiliate, said the reorganization recognizes that the number of abortions in Iowa plummeted after the state started enforcing its strict abortion law. It also reflects that the regional group's overall budget is down. 'We've got the compounded challenges of the fact that sexual and reproductive health care has been politicized in this environment,' she said. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA Pro-Life America, said in a statement that the closures are warranted: 'Planned Parenthood's focus is squarely on abortions, gender transitions and political spending.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The federal government has moved to cut funding for clinics In March, the Department of Health and Human Services withheld $27.5 million that groups were expecting to provide family planning, contraception, cancer screening and sexually transmitted infection tests and treatment. Some of the groups also provide abortions and include at least 11 regional Planned Parenthood affiliates. 'We're absolutely in a public health crisis of epic proportions,' said Brittany Fonteno, president and CEO of the National Abortion Federation. 'We're in a situation where there are reproductive health care deserts, not just abortion care deserts.' President Donald Trump's tax and budget bill that is up for consideration in the Senate after getting House approval would deliver more blows to abortion funding. It would bar federally subsidized health insurance plans from covering abortion, except if it's necessary to save the life of the woman, or in cases of rape or incest. The bill also would bar Medicaid funds from flowing to Planned Parenthood, the nation's biggest abortion provider. Planned Parenthood said those provisions could lead to the closures of about half its clinics that provide abortion —- and about one-fourth of abortion clinics nationwide. The biggest impact on affiliate clinics would be in states where abortion is legal. Alexis McGill-Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said it's almost been a challenge to fund abortion — and all health care — for low-income people. 'If the market could have figured it out,' she said, 'then we wouldn't exist.'
