Self-Induced Abortion Increases Where Legal Care Is Scarce In The Rio Grande Valley
While many Texans reflected on what was a somber 41st anniversary of Roe v. Wade this week, focus was shifted specifically to the Rio Grande Valley, where access to reproductive care services has vastly reduced. Because of this, doctors who previously were able to provide abortion care have highlighted the frequency of people whose only options are to self-induce abortions now that they cannot access legal services.
"I hope our politicians are made aware of how many girls are self-aborting in the Rio Grande Valley," said Dr. Lester Minto, owner of Reproductive Services of Harlingen. In a story from Al Jazeera America, Dr. Minto discussed how his patients had told him if his clinic closed, they would resort to something illegal.
In another report this week by RH Reality Check, evidence has shown that self-induction was already more common in Texas than other states around the country before HB 2. With abortion-inducing drugs more accessible across the US-Mexican border, this seems to be the obvious choice for those who have been left with next to nothing. Stomach ulcer drugs like misoprostol and Cytotec are some options people have used for self-induced abortions, but there are other methods being used such as herbs, laxatives, or more physically invasive methods such as inserting objects.
As reported previously, when oral arguments were heard in the Fifth Circuit Court about HB 2, the burden of travel was questioned for those living in the Rio Grande Valley, who are now without an abortion provider. However, Judge Edith Jones dismissed any undue burden on anyone seeking an abortion in the Valley because the roads were "peculiarly flat" and not "congested."
More at http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14705/selfinduced-abortion-increases-where-legal-care-is-scarce-in-the-rio-grande-valley .
[font color=green]The nearest clinics providing legal abortions are in Corpus Christi and San Antonio (150 to 250 miles away).[/font]
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This should not even be considered with proper medical care available.
I can only wish every damn one that voted to disallow safe medical abortions would find themselves in the shoes of someone forced to do a back alley abortion!
