As an OB-GYN for more than 30 years, I must comment on the crisis in women's health care since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. While in Pennsylvania, abortion remains legal until 24 weeks, or "viability" (when the fetus can survive outside the mother), many other states have enacted extreme bans, some as early as six weeks, when many women don't even know they're pregnant.

The consequences of these bans are severe. There have been two reported deaths of mothers in Georgia: Amber Thurman and Candi Miller. Because of the previous abortion ban in Ireland, a doctor died, and a ballot initiative made abortion legal in 2019. The Georgia ban has been reaffirmed by their state Supreme Court. This shows flagrant disregard for women's lives and well-being. It also prevents physicians from taking care of women consistent with standard-of-care practices and in emergency situations.

Abortion bans interfere with proper care for women having miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, premature rupture of membranes and other medically dangerous situations. Physicians can stand by, at risk of arrest, and allow this!

The lies told by Republican candidates and "pro-life" advocates are part of a national disinformation campaign prevalent in the Republican Party. There's no such thing as a late-term abortion, and no babies are killed by physicians after birth. These liars already invented something they call partial-birth abortion, which doesn't exist. This is an insult to all physicians.

We know that Planned Parenthood, which was denied federal funding (Title X) during Trump's administration, will be denied that funding again if he wins this election. J.D. Vance already stated this. Planned Parenthood has cared for millions of women, providing cancer screening, contraception counseling and access, and prenatal care. Abortion is only 10% of their services.

While I cared for two patients when they were pregnant, sometimes difficult choices need to be made, and a woman, who may already have children, needs to be placed above the fetus unless she chooses the alternative. The decisions must be made by the pregnant woman, her family and her physician, not by legislators and judges who know nothing about medicine!

I urge a vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to protect women and our healthcare rights, and to protect the physicians who care for us. To do otherwise cannot be ethically or morally condoned.

Sherry L Blumenthal

Erdenheim