1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

The shocking rise in maternal mortality in states with restrictive abortion laws has brought renewed urgency to protecting reproductive rights and ensuring access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare. As a Maternal Fetal Medicine physician, I have dedicated my life to providing life-saving care to pregnant patients. My colleagues and I are horrified by the innumerable tragic cases of maternal deaths that are a direct result of abortion bans. As a matter of personal freedom, bodily autonomy, and public health, it is imperative that we safeguard the ability of individuals to make informed decisions about their own reproductive choices without undue government interference or barriers to care. Reproductive freedom is a fundamental human right that must be defended through legislation and the removal of medically unnecessary restrictions. Taking action to preserve and expand access to the full range of reproductive services, including abortion care, is a moral and ethical imperative that upholds human dignity, advances gender equality, and promotes healthier families and communities. I implore you to prioritize this issue and use your position to be a champion for reproductive justice and stop these preventable maternal deaths in our country.