Thread by @DrDGrossman

Hi @MeghanMcCain. I am an OB/GYN, abortion provider & researcher. I'd like to clarify some facts: 65 countries allow abortion at this stage in cases of fetal malformations or anomalies. (tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…) The US doesn't have access to early abortion like many countries do.

https://twitter.com/MeghanMcCain/status/1090328713814831105

From your tweet, you suggest that you don't want the US to be a global outlier on abortion policy. Did you know that 78% of high-income countries provide public funding for abortion, making the US an outlier? contraceptionjournal.org/article/S0010-…

There are many reasons why patients have abortions after 20 weeks; complications happen as the pregnancy progresses, my patient's health is impacted, and we perform tests to make sure the fetus is healthy. This is why this decision is made based on medical advice, not politics.

Additionally, I see patients who need abortions after 20 weeks because the restrictions to abortion made it difficult for them to get care earlier. Everything from medically unnecessary waiting periods and ultrasound laws to shuttering of clinics and insurance bans create delays.

In fact, we found that there was an increase in second and third trimester abortions because of the laws in Texas (which were later found unconstitutional) that made access to first trimester abortions difficult. expressnews.com/news/local/art…

Whether or not we ourselves would have a later abortion is not the question. The question is whether or not we're able to show empathy for the patient making that decision. It's my job as a doctor to support my patients in making the decisions that are best for their situation.

When we have this debate, we must center the patients in the conversation, and use evidence-based research and facts to inform policy.

I'd be more than happy to come on @TheView and talk to you about this and share more of the research and facts about abortion. Let's talk!