Senator Hassan Underlines the Dangerous Consequences of Overturning Roe v. Wade

Press Release

U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today underscored the serious and dangerous implications of the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing.

Watch Senator Hassan's questioning here.

Senator Hassan began by stating that "We know that the end of Roe is not the final goal of anti-choice extremists: their ultimate objective is to ban abortion nationwide. We have to hold the line against any efforts to enact a nationwide abortion ban and keep fighting to protect a woman's fundamental freedom. This is, after all, about whether women are allowed to make their own complex life and health decisions."

Senator Hassan then discussed how the overturning of Roe v. Wade puts at risk women who experience life-threatening, ectopic pregnancies.

"In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision, we're hearing extremely concerning reports about women experiencing difficulty getting critical emergency care related to pregnancy," said Senator Hassan. "One in fifty women experience an ectopic pregnancy, a life-threatening condition."

Dr. Kristyn Brandi, the Board Chair of Physicians for Reproductive Health, shared the story of a patient with an ectopic pregnancy who suddenly had to receive life-saving surgery. She added that "it's really heartbreaking to consider as a physician that I would have to hold back what I know is evidence-based care to intervene right at that moment because I'm worried about calling my lawyer and making sure that I can do that before I intervene."

"Treatment for an ectopic pregnancy is clearly life-saving medical care and politicians have no place in the doctor's office or in the operating room, where a doctor should be able to provide care quickly and safely based on best medical guidance," Senator Hassan also said.

Senator Hassan then spoke about how the overturning of Roe v. Wade has caused uncertainty about the availability of medical treatments that have alternative uses related to abortion care.

"The Supreme Court's decision created countless legal questions that have brought uncertainty into hospitals and clinics as you've just pointed out," said Senator Hassan. "Reports indicate that confusion has interfered with treatment for a number of conditions, ranging from rheumatoid arthritis and IUD insertions to miscarriages."

When asked to outline why this confusion is harmful in a medical setting, Dr. Brandi responded that "there's a lot of overlap, for example, in miscarriage management. It's the exact same medicines, the exact same procedure as abortion care, and so it's unclear if providers can provide that care under these very confusing regulations."

Source