news

"A 10yo shouldn't be forced to give birth." The lives affected by Roe v. Wade, one month on.

Warning: This post mentions sexual assault and miscarriage and may be triggering for some readers.

Listen to this story being read by Brielle Burns, here. 


It's been one month since the US Supreme Court handed down the decision that sparked outrage all over the world.

On June 24, the court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that recognised a woman's constitutional right to an abortion, winding back women's rights by 50 years.

Watch: US President Biden speaks after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Post continues below. 

Since then, "trigger laws" banning nearly all abortions have started taking effect in 13 US states. Restrictive abortion laws from before Roe v. Wade are also starting to be enforced in another 13 states. 

Just this week, Georgia became the latest state to institute a ban on abortion after a heartbeat is detected, around six weeks of pregnancy. 

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision, President Joe Biden signed an executive order earlier this month, that aims to protect women's access to abortion.

The order applies to states where the procedure remains legal by heading off some potential penalties that women seeking abortion may face, but his order will not restore access to abortion in the states where total bans have come into effect.

However, by the time Chloe’s appointment came around, Roe v Wade had been overturned.

"I thought I would be OK. I thought the law wouldn’t go into effect for a while. Sadly, that’s not the case," she explained.

In Arizona, abortions are banned unless medically necessary to save a mother’s life.

"I now have no choice. My doctor called me today and told me I have to remain pregnant until this baby dies inside of me or dies when she’s born," she wrote. 

After her post went viral, Chloe started a GoFundMe page to help her raise money to pay for the procedure in another state. 

At the time of publication, the fundraiser has raised over $20,000 (USD).

Listen to The Quicky, Mamamia's daily news publication. Post continues below. 

The woman who bled for 10 days from an incomplete miscarriage.

In Wisconsin, a woman who was having an incomplete miscarriage, was refused help by doctors after the state's ban on abortions came into effect. 

According to the Washington Post, the woman, who has not been identified, was reportedly left to bleed for 10 days. 

Carley Zeal, a gynecologist at Mercyhealth Cancer Centre in southern Wisconsin, told the publication, the staff from another hospital weighed up what services they could provide the woman before ultimately refusing to remove the fetal tissue from her uterus.

She later gave the woman abortion medication to expel the fetal tissue.

"It really delayed her care," she told the publication.

"I saw her a week and a half later with an ongoing miscarriage and bleeding, increasing the risk of severe bleeding as well as infections."

If this has raised any issues for you or if you would like to speak with someone, please contact the Sands Australia 24-hour support line on 1300 072 637. 

You can download Never Forgotten: Stories of love, loss and healing after miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death for free here.

You can also call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.

Feature Image: Instagram@chloe___a

As our loyal readers we want to hear from you! Complete this survey now to go in the running to win $100 gift voucher.

Related Stories

Recommended

Top Comments

alessandra.z87 2 years ago
They're not even acting when it is necessary to save a woman's life - the woman in Wisconsin could have died. You can't just leave dead fetal tissue in someone. They're ultimately criminalising pregnancy and health care. 
cat 2 years ago
@alessandra.z87  its horrifying. A lot of women cannot get pain medication for arthritis in particular because it can technically cause cause a miscarriage, so doctors don't know if they could be sued by a random member of the public for prescribing it. 

So women with chronic illnesses just have to live in pain. 

cat 2 years ago 1 upvotes
And now the AD of Ihio is "investigating" the doctor who treated the 10 year old, and Fox news doxxed her to their gun toting zealots. The doctor is now suing for defamation and I hope she takes them for millions.