Maryland prepares to increase its abortion capacity with Roe v. Wade In Doubt. Dean Sarah Szanton Weighs In.

The Supreme Court seems poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, according to a recent leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court.

Maryland lawmakers just passed a bill that would allow nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants to perform abortions. The Abortion Care Access Act will also increase the racial and ethnic diversity among health professionals with abortion care training.

Maryland prepares to increase its abortion capacity as future of Roe v. Wade in doubt

In an op-ed for the Baltimore Sun, Dean Sarah Szanton said, “Think about the excellent work midwives do in delivering babies, which is much more dangerous than an abortion. It makes sense they’d be able to provide this service.”

Nurses are painfully aware that if Roe v. Wade is reversed, it is not only turning back the clock on women’s rights, it is also harder to accomplish the goals of public health we strive to achieve. The goals of providing the right to an equal chance at health, wellness, and well-being are essential to our view of holistic health.

This is a health issue, as Dean Sarah Szanton and Bloomberg School of Public Health Dean Ellen McKenzie and wrote in an op-ed to the Baltimore Sun in April.

Johns Hopkins deans: Maryland’s abortion bill good news for health care | GUEST COMMENTARY

“Too often this is framed as a political issue,” the deans wrote.

From the op-ed:

Where abortions are illegal, the consequences for individuals are significant. Research shows that women denied abortions are more likely to endure physical violence from the man involved in the pregnancy. They also have higher levels of debt and experience more bankruptcies, evictions and other financial hardships.

Reliable access to safe and legal abortion does more than prevent these harms. Many nurses see firsthand how it supports the ability of families to thrive and care for children over the long term.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: SYDNEE LOGAN

Sydnee Logan, MA is the Sr. Social Media and Digital Content Specialist for Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She shares Hopkins Nurses with the world.