If you’ve ever had a miscarriage, you know how devastating it can be. I suffered two spontaneous abortions when pregnant — one during week 7 and one in week 11. Both were triggered by an autoimmune disease that took doctors nearly a decade to diagnose. After the miscarriages, my doctors provided a D&C to prevent hemorrhage, infection, further pain and fertility loss. It was safe and painless. I was grateful for their care.

However, if I suffered a pregnancy loss today, I would be denied access to that medically necessary procedure because of HB 481, Georgia’s six-week abortion ban. Why? Because a D&C is also a safe way to perform a medical abortion. 

The negative impact of politically motivated health care policies

Doctors shouldn’t have to call a lawyer before they operate. They shouldn’t face prosecution for upholding their Hippocratic Oath. And yet, Georgia’s HB 481 has created such chaos and confusion, this is what is happening. 

Politicians are practicing medicine without a license with these badly thought-out bills. Women will die and families will suffer unless we make them stop.

Doctors, not politicians, should be making health care decisions

Did you know 40 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage? Half occur before a woman knows she’s pregnant. After the fifth week, you have a 1 in 5 chance of miscarrying, like I did. These spontaneous abortions are not a choice. They happen because the pregnancy is not viable. 

However, due to HB 481, these clusters of cells that my body rejected now have ‘person’ status. That means if I were to miscarry today, someone could charge me with manslaughter if they thought I was to blame. And it doesn’t matter if they bring charges out of ignorance or malice. I’m the one who would pay, emotionally, physically and financially. 

Think that sounds absurd? Google it. It’s happening wherever restrictive abortion laws and bans have been enacted.

People don’t want politics to interfere with their access to health care

What I hate the most is that the politicians enacting these bans aren’t representing the wishes of the people who elected them. Most Americans don’t want abortion bans. Neither do Georgians.

According to the 2022 General Election Survey, 62 percent of Georgians object to HB 481 and 54 percent strongly oppose the restrictive abortion law. Nearly 60 percent of Georgia adults believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, per a PRRI study.

Clearly, the majority of us believe women should have the freedom to choose when and if she wants to start a family. That’s because it’s a decision that can make or break a person physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. 

In a free and fair society, bodily autonomy is a human right. We didn’t want the government telling us to wear masks or forcing us to get vaccinated. By that same logic, the government doesn’t have the right to take away my freedom to make healthcare decisions or force me to stay pregnant if it puts my life at risk. Look at what’s happening to women in Texas. 

Women stand to lose even more freedoms if we don’t stop Republican-dominated legislatures now

Unfortunately, our elected officials want even more government intrusion. Rep. Emory Dunahoo has introduced HB 496, a total abortion ban bill that has no exceptions for rape or incest. How nice of him to give rapists the freedom to choose which victim will mother their child.

My faith teaches me to prioritize the health, safety and dignity of the mother. I am not alone. According to PRRI research, the majority of people of all faiths from Baptist to Catholics, Jews to Muslims, believe that reproductive health decisions should be made by individuals with their families and medical providers they trust, not judges and politicians. We believe in a woman’s bodily autonomy because of our faith, not despite it.

I am grateful to know that some of our state representatives are fighting to restore the rights and freedoms hindered by HB 481 with the Reproductive Freedom Act, known as House Bill 75 (HB 75) and Senate Bill 15 (SB 15). I urge you to call your state senator and house representative and remind them that the majority of Georgians want to see these bills come to a hearing, and do not want more bans. Politicians need to stop playing doctor and allow medical professionals to do what is necessary to save lives, prevent illness and minimize harm.

This ‘Love Thy Neighbor’ column originally appeared in the White County News.