Center for Reproductive Rights Report Documents Poor-Quality Care After Dobbs

The Center for Reproductive Rights published a report documenting poor quality care after Dobbs. 

The Care Post-Roe Study seeks to learn about how clinical care has changed by documenting cases of care that was different from the usual standard due to abortion laws that went into effect since the Dobbs ruling. This study allows health care providers to share these narratives anonymously and confidentially, at a time when they are being forbidden by their employers or hospital leadership from speaking with the press about these cases.

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Cases in the narratives fell into several categories: 1. Obstetric complications in the second trimester prior to fetal viability, including preterm prelabor rupture of membranes, hemorrhage, cervical dilation, and hypertension; 2. Ectopic pregnancy, including cesarean scar ectopic; 3. Underlying medical conditions that made continuing a pregnancy dangerous; 4. Severe fetal anomalies; 5. Early miscarriage; 6. Extreme delays in obtaining abortion care; and 7. Delays obtaining medical care unrelated to abortion.

The post-Dobbs laws and their interpretations altered the standard of care across these scenarios in ways that contributed to delays, worsened health outcomes, and increased the cost and logistic complexity of care. In several cases, patients experienced preventable complications, such as severe infection or having the placenta grow deep into the uterine wall and surrounding structures, because clinicians reported their “hands were tied,” making it impossible for them to provide treatment sooner.   

Access the full report here.