1. United States
2. Ga.
3. Letter

Amber Thurman's tragic and preventable death highlights the grave consequences of Georgia's restrictive abortion law. The official maternal mortality review committee deemed her death preventable, citing the hospital's delay in providing a routine procedure to address complications from her attempted abortion. By criminalizing this essential medical care, the law prevented doctors from acting swiftly, allowing Thurman's condition to deteriorate until it was too late. Her story serves as a sobering reminder that abortion bans not only violate bodily autonomy but jeopardize women's lives by obstructing access to potentially life-saving interventions. We must call on lawmakers to urgently revisit these harmful policies and restore the right to make personal healthcare decisions without government overreach. Thurman's death was avoidable, and reform is imperative to prevent further tragedies.