Missouri, pre-Roe v. Wade, made getting an abortion a tough procedure. The rules enforced by the state necessitated doctors to have admission rights at local hospitals. They also made patients receive state-oriented counseling, alongside serving a waiting period of 72 hours. By the 2021, as per the reports from Missouri Independent, it amounted to a total of just 150 abortions being carried out in Missouri.

Legal and Political Battles

In June 2022, after the Supreme Court agreed with Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Missouri established itself as the pioneer to prohibit abortion. The law incorporated a provision for healthcare exigencies; however, its ambiguous nature could precipitate peril for patients and medical personnel. Physicians violating this ban could face incarceration from five to fifteen years and their medical licenses may also stand at risk of termination.

A political action committee, called Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, was formed in react to events. It aimed to reinstate the right to abortion. Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, both opponents of abortion rights, presented them legal obstacles. The law struggle centered mainly on how ballot titles and financial summaries for a potential measure were worded. This measure proposed giving voters’ power to decide about enshrining abortion rights up until the point of fetal viability.

Campaigning for Change

Missouri doctors, including Dr. Iman Alsaden, the chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Great Plains, have joined efforts to expand abortion access and reduce governmental interference in healthcare. Alsaden, who has experience providing abortions in states with restrictive laws, has actively participated in petition drives across Missouri, explaining the detrimental impact of the abortion ban on pregnancy care.

“The ban harms pregnancy care,” Alsaden explains, drawing on their experiences in both Missouri and Oklahoma, where they worked when Texas enacted a six-week abortion ban in September 2021. Despite the challenges, Alsaden no longer provides abortions in Missouri due to the state’s restrictions.

Personal and Professional Identity

Alsaden’s background as an Iranian American with a family deeply rooted in medicine shapes their approach to patient care. Their identity as a queer person and their commitment to bodily autonomy and human rights drive their dedication to reproductive health. “I believe in bodily autonomy and basic human rights,” Alsaden states. “If I can spend every day of my career making life fairer, that’s a powerful idea.”

Alsaden’s decision to support the efforts of Missourians for Constitutional Freedom stems from a desire to restore access to care. “Restoring abortion access is powerful,” they explain. “It gets us closer to providing care to people in their communities.”

Navigating Legal Restrictions

Currently, Missouri’s abortion laws only permit procedures in cases of medical emergencies. However, Alsaden highlights the ambiguities in these laws, noting that they do not practice abortion in Missouri due to these restrictions. “The law is inserting itself too much in medicine, making things unsafe for patients,” Alsaden argues. “Politicians should be ashamed.”

The anti-abortion rhetoric in Missouri, fueled by political figures and campaigns, perpetuates misconceptions about healthcare providers’ roles. Alsaden faces constant vilification, with opponents labeling them a murderer. “It’s dangerous to tie physicians’ hands,” Alsaden emphasizes. “The government is interfering in the practice of medicine, worsening patient outcomes.”

The Impact on Patients

The consequences of restrictive abortion laws extend beyond healthcare providers, profoundly affecting patients, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds. “The impact on patients cannot be quantified,” Alsaden notes. “Anti-abortion laws disproportionately affect lower socio-economic groups, non-white individuals, and rural communities.”

For many, accessing abortion care requires overcoming significant logistical challenges, including travel, financial resources, and familial responsibilities. Alsaden points out the crucial role of abortion funds in supporting those in need yet underscores the necessity for care to be available where people live. “People should not have to jump through hoops to get essential medical care,” Alsaden asserts.

The Role of Identity in Care

Alsaden’s identity as part of a marginalized community informs their empathetic approach to treating patients. “It’s easy to treat people with respect and care,” they explain. They emphasize the importance of being aware of implicit bias in medical practice and strive to provide consistent, high-quality care to all patients, regardless of their background.

Addressing Information Scarcity

While legal hurdles exist, many places in the U. still provide access to abortion. Reliable facts are very important for those in need of such services. The World Health Organization has noted that a lack of correct information is a major obstacle to sexual and reproductive health. Doctors are ethically required to offer patients total information on abortion, even in regions where it’s illegal.

Research suggests healthcare providers are often hesitant to share information due to legal fears. However, professionals have a responsibility to offer all-options counseling, ensuring patients are informed about available treatments and access methods. “Clinicians have a professional responsibility to share basic abortion information,” Alsaden stresses, advocating for the reduction of barriers to care through informed patient interactions.