How close to death must a woman be to get an abortion in Tennessee?

[marmar]

(Guardian UK) Months after the implementation of the most stringent abortion ban in the country, conservative lawmakers in Tennessee have publicly acknowledged that the state’s ban poses grave risks to the lives of women.

Now a political debate over how to change the law is centered on questions that would have been considered unthinkable before last June’s reversal of Roe v Wade: like how close to death a woman must be before a doctor may legally treat her if it means terminating her pregnancy, and whether women should be forced to carry embryos with fatal anomalies to term.

Will Brewer, the powerful lobbyist of Tennessee Right to Life, a Christian anti-abortion group that wrote the current ban, has been accused of waging a campaign of intimidation against lawmakers who he has said are seeking to “weaken” the law. In public testimony and private meetings, Brewer has said women should only be offered terminations if they are facing acute emergencies – such as when they enter an emergency room “bleeding out” – and suggested some complications can “work themselves out” without medical intervention.

Speaking last week before the West Knoxville Republican Club, Brewer also questioned the veracity of medical diagnoses involving what is known as lethal fetal anomalies.

“Who’s to say with any kind of certainty what a medically futile pregnancy is or a fatal fetal anomaly, which is some condition with the baby that will not allow it to live outside of the womb?” he said. ................(more)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/20/tennessee-abortion-ban-strictist-in-us

[paleotn]

1. Reason number 2,457,985

why I will never set foot in the ole home state ever again.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

3. one obstetrician who told him about two pregnant patients she had seen since July who were just 12 y

one obstetrician who told him about two pregnant patients she had seen since July who were just 12 years old.

“A fifth-grader … their bodies are not prepared to carry a pregnancy to term. There is irreparable damage that can be done that will render it impossible for her to have children in the future. That is what Right to Life does,” he said in reference to the group that wrote the law.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/20/tennessee-abortion-ban-strictist-in-us

[Docreed2003]

6. There's a 12 yo preparing to give birth in our area right now

All because of this freaking law

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

2. "I'm anticipating those situations to be among people without resources to go out of state" for abor

In Tennessee, doctors who spoke with the Guardian on the condition of anonymity say anecdotal evidence suggests the state is already seeing an uptick in teenage births and that – since it has been about nine months since the trigger ban took effect – they are anticipating an increased number of babies being born who have life-threatening conditions that will immediately require treatment in neonatal units.

“I’m anticipating those situations to be among people without resources to go out of state” for abortion care, one doctor said.

[Docreed2003]

4. "Who's to say?"

This isn't theoretical Mr Brewer. These things are certainties and no about of gish gallop on your part can change scientific fact. You are putting the lives of women in this state at risk every day this law is on the books, sir. Please spare us your hokey bull crap of "working things out". Death...death is what this is bringing. Change the damn law

[NickB79]

7. Well, Mr Brewer is living proof you can live without a fully formed brain

So there's that 🤷

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Medicine is considered a science, but it is imprecise, involves disagreement, and is also an art.

That's why physicians are said to "practice". And why medical testimony in courts relies on expert witnesses. No one ever agrees completely, and most decline to predict. It's going to be a physicians' war over these laws. And some of the physicians will be more on the side of theologians. I would not want to be caught in the middle or on the wrong side.

[keithbvadu2]

8. How close? Last rites... They would rather lose both woman and fetus than allow an abortion.

How close? Last rites.

They would rather lose both woman and fetus than allow an abortion.

.
God's will.

Brewer's decision.

[Duppers]

9. K & R