{"id":307307,"date":"2024-03-11T12:46:30","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T17:46:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=307307"},"modified":"2024-03-11T09:40:23","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T14:40:23","slug":"media-exploited-family-struggles-promote-abortion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/media-exploited-family-struggles-promote-abortion\/","title":{"rendered":"This media outlet exploited a family’s struggles just to promote abortion"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

ProPublica recently released the story<\/a> of a woman who faced a life-threatening pregnancy complication in Tennessee in 2022. The outlet followed Mayron Michelle Hollis and her family for a year, inaccurately claiming that she was denied an abortion, and falsely blaming her long-term struggles on the state’s pro-life law.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Tennessee law<\/strong><\/p>\n

Two months following the overturning of Roe v. Wade<\/em>, Tennessee enacted a law protecting the majority of preborn children from abortion. That law<\/a> does allow induced abortion \u2014 the direct and intentional killing of preborn children \u2014 in situations in which the mother’s life is considered to be in danger. However, induced abortion is never medically necessary because the child does not<\/em> have to be killed prior to (or after) delivery to save the mother’s life.<\/p>\n

When the law took effect in August 2022, it did not specifically mention ectopic pregnancy, though it was later amended<\/a> to include it. However, surgery for an ectopic pregnancy is not<\/em> an induced abortion and is not prohibited by any law.<\/p>\n

A risky pregnancy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hollis told ABC News<\/a> she was excited to be expecting her second child with her husband, Chris. She had recently given birth to their first child a few months prior and she had three other children who had been removed from her custody likely due to her ongoing struggles with addiction.<\/p>\n

At eight weeks pregnant, Hollis was diagnosed with a C-section scar ectopic pregnancy, and placenta accreta, a potentially dangerous condition in which the placenta grows into the uterine wall. The rate of placenta accreta is increasing due to the rising use of C-sections. The pro-abortion American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists notes<\/a> that other “prior uterine surgeries or curettage” such as a Dilation and Curettage (D&C) procedure (used for miscarriage management or for abortion), also increase the risk.<\/p>\n

The risk of uterine rupture made it a dangerous situation and Hollis was legally allowed to end the pregnancy. She was offered an abortion and refused.<\/p>\n

Hollis’ situation became more complex when the placenta began to grow through the uterine wall, putting other organs at risk. Scared, she decided she wanted an abortion, but the state’s pro-life law took effect the next day. One doctor was still willing to do the procedure because of the risk to Hollis’ health, but the doctors he needed to assist him were hesitant. Hollis was told to travel to Pittsburgh for the abortion, but couldn’t take the time off of work.<\/p>\n

Dr. Christina Francis, a board-certified OBGYN and CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, explained to Live Action News:<\/p>\n

This story is a reminder of the need to offer patients holistic support during challenging pregnancies. Though we cannot make definitive statements about her case without looking at her medical records, it is clear based on what Pro Publica wrote that Ms. Hollis faced significant medical obstacles during her pregnancy. <\/em><\/p>\n

The story describes a cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy \u2013 a potentially life-threatening condition for which treatment is not prohibited by any state law in the country. Pro-life laws aim to protect the lives, health, and dignity of both pregnant women and their preborn children \u2013 which can be done while still providing the highest quality of medical care.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

It is imperative that physicians understand they can still provide life-saving care for women in every state in this country – this is how those of us who are pro-life physicians have always practiced.<\/em><\/p>\n

Abortion wasn’t the answer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite ProPublica’s reporting, Hollis was not denied an abortion<\/em>.<\/p>\n

But thankfully, she didn’t have one because what media outlets didn’t<\/em> report is that abortion in cases of placenta accreta is risky, even in the first trimester. One study reported<\/a> that placenta accreta can “complicate a first-trimester abortion…” Researchers stated, “Most reports in the literature suggested … hysterectomy as the definitive treatment <\/em>for first-trimester postabortal placenta accreta.” (emphasis added)<\/p>\n

In the second trimester, abortion<\/a> is considered “both controversial and rarely reported” with placenta accreta.<\/p>\n

The abortion-friendly doctors (and ProPublica) were insistent that an abortion would save Hollis’ fertility, but this was not a guarantee.<\/p>\n

In addition, aborting her baby could have compounded issues for Hollis. One cross-sectional study<\/a> reported that post-abortive women saw triple-digit increases in the risk for alcohol abuse (261%), alcohol dependence (142%), drug abuse (313%), drug dependence (287%), and any substance use disorder (280%) following an abortion.<\/p>\n