Thanks to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, many medical professionals find themselves struggling to balance their professional and legal obligations when it comes to treating patients with pregnancy complications. By way of example, a woman has sued a hospital, claiming their refusal to provide an abortion put her health at risk when she learned her fetus would not survive.

If you're a doctor, nurse practitioner, or other health care provider facing professional repercussions because of a pregnancy-related medical decision, contact the Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm. We understand how this can jeopardize your professional future, and we can defend you if your license is at risk. You can reach us online or by calling 888-535-3686.

Pregnancy Complications

The plaintiff in the lawsuit is Mylissa Farmer, and according to her allegations, she became pregnant in 2022. However, around the 17-week point in her pregnancy, her water broke. After seeing doctors at two hospitals, they both agreed that her unborn baby would not survive.

Due to her loss of amniotic fluid, she was at risk of a significant infection that could result in her losing her uterus. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade just weeks earlier, and the healthcare professionals were hesitant to terminate the pregnancy.

Legal Uncertainty in Missouri and Kansas

When her water broke, Mrs. Farmer first went to a hospital in Missouri. But Missouri had a statewide abortion ban in effect. Even though this law had an exception when an abortion was needed to save the life of the mother, the doctors at the Missouri hospital weren't sure if Mrs. Farmer's situation qualified as an exception, especially because a fetal heartbeat could still be detected.

Mrs. Farmer then went to a hospital in Kansas, where there were fewer abortion restrictions in place. A doctor originally recommended that the pregnancy be terminated by inducing labor to give Mrs. Farmer and her now-husband a chance to say goodbye to their daughter. The Kansas hospital overrode the doctor because such a decision was too “risky” from a political standpoint.

Mrs. Farmer returned to the hospital in Missouri for observation. Eventually, Mrs. Farmer received an abortion from a clinic in Illinois. Because of the delay in being treated, Mrs. Farmer claims she endured an infection, which resulted in her losing her home because the infection prevented her from working for several months.

Abortion Laws Put Medical Professionals in No-Win Situations

Mrs. Farmer's pregnancy and lawsuit reflect the dilemma many medical providers find themselves in when treating pregnant patients. There's not just legal uncertainty but also political and social uncertainty about abortion. As a consequence, you might find yourself in trouble with your licensure board regardless of whether you complete an abortion or refuse to provide one. When you're in danger of losing your license, get in touch with the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Team. Contact us the moment you're accused of medical malpractice concerning a medical decision you made for your pregnant patient. You can do so by using our online contact form or calling 888-535-3686.