Thread by @dr_moayedi

Biden is going to sign an Executive Order today. We'll see what the final text says, but as an #abortion provider here's the context I can share:
HHS doesn't distribute or prescribe medication abortion. If federal employees need medication abortion, they go to abortion clinics.

As of today, states like Texas and Mississippi don't have #abortion clinics that are providing care, and telemedicine abortion is illegal. Unless the EO grants access to teleMAB to every person in every state, how will this actually get medication abortion to Texans?

EMTALA can't make anyone provide an #abortion or protect us from being arrested. This law requires stabilization in emergency medical situations - "emergencies" are defined broadly and allow for A LOT of subjectivity. The same gray areas I've spoken extensively about will remain.

EMTALA is also widely abused when looking at immigrant communities. I've cared for patients who are undocumented & were discharged from a private hospital and told to 'go to county' to get their blood transfusion. EMTALA doesn't protect my community.

Speaking of immigrant communities. In #Texas we've been asking the administration for 10+ months to close internal border checkpoints and release detained pregnant folx. This EO doesn't look like it will address either.

Internal border checkpoints prevent the free movement of people WITHIN the US. Unless these checkpoints are closed, this EO won't get border communities #abortion care & it won't protect folx traveling for care. People are trapped.

https://twitter.com/ncardenastx/status/1544858852314710021?t=2xjd7X2tmPA6U0yniOuFMw&s=19

What about incarcerated folx in TX or MS? Without available #abortion care within a state, people who are incarcerated in our states will still be denied their human right to abortion care. Protecting travel isn't enough, every community needs accessible abortion providers.

Everyone who wants birth control should be able to access it. I applaud the administration for increasing funding for family planning services. It's also important to understand that people with planned pregnancies also need #abortion care. Birth control won't save us from this.

The EO looks like it will protect the military "as permitted by federal law". What's that mean? Well, I take care of A LOT of military folx, but I'm a civilian. How come? Because...there are only a few reasons you can get an #abortion on base. Life endangerment, rape, incest.

But, to be able to qualify for an exception, you have to report. What I've learned from almost 2 decades of being an #abortion provider near bases? Almost no one in the military reports their assault. Even in cases of assault, the armed forces depend on private clinics for care.

People stationed on bases in TX & MS no longer have access to #abortion clinics for care. People in the armed forces are disproportionately impacted by clinic closures and many do not have the $$ to travel. I've counted quarters with someone trying to pay for their care before.

I want to be hopeful y'all. I really do. I hope this is a first step, before BOLD action. My community is suffering. We needed help 10 months ago. We are pleading that the administration we voted for, protect our human rights.
We all need #abortion care in our own communities.

Yup. Go to everybodytexas.org/find-a-clinic and see where the closest Title X clinic is to #Uvalde, #Marfa, or #DelRio.

https://twitter.com/robinmarty/status/1545394657667973120?s=20&t=5LaRRdR4uTUzOWHT0FSeXA

This is also an excellent point. Your PO in #Texas will have to give you permission to get your #abortion care. Sounds like it will totally work out. 😵‍💫

https://twitter.com/GeauxGabrielle/status/1545398521674727426?s=20&t=5LaRRdR4uTUzOWHT0FSeXA

Will the Executive Order outline what a pregnancy complication is? What exactly is a miscarriage? What's an ectopic pregnancy? We have been researching this in #Texas and the reality is, it's not easily definable.

nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…

What? An ectopic pregnancy isn't an agreed upon definition? Yes...In practice, it's literally defined by the individual hospital you show up at. I talk about it more, here.

pbs.org/newshour/amp/s…

OMG the only question he answered was about Japan. We can't even talk about #abortion at the abortion presser.