A year after Roe v. Wade was overturned, the United States is facing a shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists. It is expected to get worse in the coming years as medical students make decisions about what and where to practice, in part, based on states. Abortion laws.
Erin Dougie is a third-year medical student in Florida, but unless things change, she said this isn’t where she wants to be a doctor.
“It’s not the environment I really want to be in,” the future OB-GYN told CBS News.
Students like Duffy are increasingly avoiding OB-GYN residencies in states that prohibit abortion.
Applicants in those states have fallen more than 10% since then Roe v. Wade was overturnedAccording to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Some have even decided to avoid the specialty altogether, worried about being able to practice evidence-based medicine.
“There’s also a huge concern that we can be legally prosecuted,” Duffy said.
Dr. Nicole Scott, director of the OB-GYN residency program at Indiana University College of Medicine, said she’s already seen a decrease in the number of applications.
“My particular concern is retaining these physicians once they have finished training and practicing post-residency,” Scott said.
This can endanger the health of all women, as OB-GYNs also screen for cancer, perform well-women exams, and prescribe birth control.
Dr. Amelia Huntsberger was practicing in Idaho, where most abortions are prohibited. Now, she’s leaving for neighboring Oregon after her rural hospital shuts down the maternity unit, citing staffing shortages and Idaho’s political climate.
“It’s very clear that Idaho is no longer a safe place to practice medicine,” Huntsberger said.
“If I’m a resident OB-GYN and I’m out of residence and I’m looking at different options, why would I look at Idaho and say, ‘Oh, I really want to move there to the state where I could be charged a felony for providing Medicare?'”
Janet Shamlian
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