Medical school graduates are avoiding states with abortion bans. Experts warn it could cause chaos

[marmar]

(Salon) Abortion restrictions might be influencing where medical students apply for residency programs, which could have stark implications across entire state healthcare systems, with some doctors warning it could essentially unravel entirely.

According to a new analysis by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Research and Action Institute, updated data from 2023 found a continued decline in medical students applying to residency programs located in states with restrictive abortion laws. The trend aligned with a similar one that the research institute saw in the first year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

“The biggest takeaway is that for a second year, we are seeing decreases in the number of applications in states where abortion bans are in place,” Kendal Orgera, a senior research analyst at AAMC told Salon in a phone interview. “And that varies by specialty — for OBGYNs in states where abortion is banned has decreased even more and this shows a big implication of the potential workforce of the future.”

As of May 2, 2024, abortions are nearly totally banned in 14 states across the country. Some, but not all, have narrow exceptions, such as preventing the death of the mother, when the pregnancy is the result of incest or rape, or when there is a lethal fetal anomaly. While many of these states don’t make it technically illegal for a pregnant person to get an abortion, they do penalize providers, like OBGYNs or family medicine doctors, for conducting them. ..............(more)

https://www.salon.com/2024/05/14/school-graduates-are-avoiding-states-with-abortion-bans-experts-warn-it-could-cause-chaos/

[viva la]

1. Well, what did they expect?

Maybe the legislators in those states don't care about the health of women citizens, but you think they'd worry at least a bit about losing medical practitioners statewide.

[Jirel]

2. "Chaos?" Excuse me?

Since when is “chaos” the synonym for “women dead due to inadequate medical care?”

“Chaos” is what you get on Black Friday in rural America when you only have one Walmart in a 100 mile radius.

Tragically, women need to start moving out of red states, as do doctors with any ethics. When the practice of medicine is banned, doctors will reasonably go practice where it is not. This is the “great hand of the marketplace” the GQP is always blathering about. Their stupidity will have consequences.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. #1 Rule of Professionals: Don't get sued

So who needs the liability?

[JT45242]

4. Forget internships... it should destroy the med schools as well

Living in Iowa, we are keenly aware that Gov. Covid Kimmy and her AG (currently in NY to support an insurrectionist on trial for campaign fraud) want to make all abortion illegal and will likely take the next step to make teaching about it illegal as well.

So, U. of Iowa Medical school will likley be banned from talking about it (think don't say abortion like don't say gay).

The former confederacy plus the neo-confederacy states of Iowa and Indiana will likely drive students and teachers away from their med schools.

Their goal is some sort of preindustrial theocracy.

[yardwork]

5. Too many people misunderstand the term "abortion."

In North Carolina, physicians asked to testify to the state legislature about the medical implications of their proposed ban. The legislators - super majority Republican - refused to allow testimony and passed a draconian law without allowing public comment.

People hear "abortion" and think it means "lazy irresponsible slut gets pregnant and then decides in her 8th month that she doesn't want the baby and can't be bothered to give the poor thing up for adoption so she walks into a clinic and has them kill the baby." THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. It's a lie, concocted to get people to vote Republican.

There is a medical definition for abortion and way too many people don't understand it. Now they're finding out. It's a shocker.

[Lonestarblue]

6. Abortion is needed for many reasons, including to finish incomplete miscarriages.

Roughly 20-25% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Medical schools and hospitals in red states will not be allowed to train OB-GYNs in abortion methods, which mens they will not be trined to handle normal miscarriages. Nor are they likely to experience treating ectopic pregnancies, which are never viable. No training to deal with an unviable pregnancy when. WIMAN’s water breaks too early for the fetus to survive.

What Republicans have created is a system that prevents effective medical treatment at most stages of a pregnancy. Unfortunately, it is the women of their states who will suffer when too few physicians are available to care for them.

[yardwork]

7. Everybody in those states will suffer, not just women.

As you say, the implications of these laws are dire. The laws prevent health care providers from providing care.

Most doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other health care professionals go into the field to help people. There are much easier ways to make money. Helping people is their motivation. These laws force providers to watch their patients suffer.

The laws will drive out health providers, close hospitals and clinics, and leave health care deserts where nobody can get care. The U.S. health care system is already difficult to navigate. This will accelerate the crisis.

The Republicans really messed up.