1 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 1: I consider my abortion the greatest act of self love 2 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: that I did. I chose my life like I chose Michaels. 3 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: And the reason why I get so emotional is it's 4 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: just thinking back and like wishing I could go back 5 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: and hug myself and um and tell myself that that 6 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: it's okay to have an abortion. And that's what I 7 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: want every wants to know. It's May eleven, eight ten 8 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: in the morning, and we are here at the last 9 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: standing abortion clinic in the entire state of Missouri. It's 10 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: a great, pretty nondescript building with a very large royal 11 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: blue Planned Parenthood sign in the front. What has been 12 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: like for the people working here? What has been like 13 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:13,679 Speaker 1: for the people coming here? That's what we're here to 14 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: find out. Hi, ladies, good morning, How are you good. 15 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: Nice to see you. My name is Nicky and I'm 16 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: a registered nurse at the Planned Parenthood location in St. 17 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:32,680 Speaker 1: Louis also though in Fair Behinds, Illinois. There's twelve recovery 18 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: chairs in this area, and there was a time where 19 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: it was packed and we were super busy and um, 20 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: we would see fifty patients in a day. But because 21 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: of the restrictions, it just is not worth it for 22 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: patients to jump through this many hoops. I have all 23 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: these activist friends in St. Louis that are are in 24 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: Missouri that are panicking about you know, the ROVERSUS wade 25 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: news in Texas and Oklahoma and whatever, and I'm like, guys, 26 00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: we're ahead of them. It's like this is already happened here, 27 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: Like they just don't know that. They don't understand. But 28 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: this has been going on since late so we, I mean, 29 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:10,679 Speaker 1: we effectively are I almost feel like it's symbolic U 30 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: to do abortions here just to be able to say 31 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: we can still provide that service. But it doesn't make 32 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,119 Speaker 1: sense staffing wise, it doesn't make sense for the patients. 33 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: It's just too many restrictions. The dominoes keep falling in 34 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,799 Speaker 1: the push to overturn Roe V. Waing the abortion flashboard 35 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: all across the country, the Ohio governor signing today the 36 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: most restrictive abortion law in the country, Alabama passing the 37 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 1: nation's most restrictive abord Today, Missouri became the latest state 38 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: to pass what Oklahoma passing a near total Texas law 39 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:43,639 Speaker 1: that would face up to fifteen years in prison nine 40 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: years in prison for performing an abortion immediately. Hi everyone, 41 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: I'm Katie Kuric and this is Abortion The Body Politic, 42 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: a six part series from Katie CURRK Media and I 43 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 1: Heart Media. Good fifty years ago this January, the landmark 44 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: ro VERSUS Way decision guaranteed the right to a safe 45 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 1: and legal abortion. In just a few weeks, the Supreme 46 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: Court is expected to reverse that decision. This could be 47 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: the most consequential opinion in decades. Hundreds of protesters rallied 48 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 1: outside the Supreme Court Monday evening afternoons of the Court's 49 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: draft opinion broke. While the US is taking away that right, 50 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: the rest of the world is riding a wave of 51 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: abortion law liberation. Mexico's Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Tuesday 52 00:03:55,640 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: that penalizing abortion is unconstitutional action. This is my friends, 53 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: This is a time to act that This is not 54 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: the time to be silent. How did we get here? 55 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: And what will abortion access look like in a post 56 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 1: row world. Over the course of the next six episodes, 57 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 1: we're going to try to answer those questions by digging 58 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: into our country's complicated reproductive history, by tracing abortion storylines 59 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: in pop culture, and by looking abroad for potential role models. 60 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 1: But first we need to start here in the present 61 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 1: because for so many we're already living in a post 62 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: row world. A lot of the conversations around access right 63 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: now have been concentrated on the legality of rome and 64 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 1: so one of the things that I keep like saying 65 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: over and over is yes, Rob Wade made abortion legal, 66 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: but not necessarily pessible. My name is Oriaku and Jaku 67 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: Yi and they pronounced and I'm co founder and executive 68 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 1: director of Access Reproductive Care Southeast. We've been funding abortion 69 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: since July of and every single year there has been 70 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: some sort of abortion banner restriction in every one of 71 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: the states that we work in. About of folks in 72 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 1: our region live in a county without an abortion provider. Um. 73 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 1: When we're thinking about the Southeast, the state of Georgia 74 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 1: has more abortion clinics than Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and South 75 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: Carolina combined. The reality is that people are traveling hours, 76 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: crossing state lines just to get simple healthcare. Oriaki Najaku's 77 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: organization AR Southeast is an abortion fund. Abortion funds have 78 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: become a key part of accessing abortions in today's increasingly 79 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: restrictive climate. In fact, there are more than ninety grassroots 80 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:11,039 Speaker 1: organizations across the country working to help people get the 81 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: abortions they need. Abortion funds are like mutual aid funds, 82 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: and so essentially we're making sure the material conditions of 83 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 1: folks who are seeking abortions are being met. And so 84 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 1: what that looks like is providing rides, lodging, childcare, translation 85 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:32,799 Speaker 1: and interpretation services. Um. You know, there's like a whole 86 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: range of things as far as things that might be 87 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: barriers for people to get to the appointment, where abortion 88 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: funds step in to support people in their community. According 89 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: to the Goopmaker Institute, one was the worst year for 90 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: abortion rights in almost half a century. Conservative led state legislators, 91 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: emboldened by the Supreme court six to three anti abortion majority, 92 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: enacted one d eight abortion restrictions in nineteen states. That's 93 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,919 Speaker 1: the most of any year since Roe was established. The 94 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: thing is, restrictions don't stop people from seeking out and 95 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: getting abortions. Just look at Texas. After it's six week 96 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: abortion BAM went into effect in September, abortions in that 97 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: state dropped by only much less than expected. Instead, more 98 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: Texans traveled out of state or ordered abortion pills online. 99 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: Once again, here's Oreaku. You know, I think that we're 100 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: prepared for this moment that we're in. Um, We've gotten 101 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: a lot of practice, getting people across state lines, getting 102 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 1: people out of the region to get care. And for me, 103 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: you know, I'm not taking a doomsday approach and doing 104 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: this work. And it's not to not honor the realness 105 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: you know, of the situation that we're in, but it's like, 106 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: what are we what are we doing? Like, what are 107 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: we building power for? That? Future? To me is like 108 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: so dreamy and so amazing that I'm like, I will 109 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: do whatever it takes to try to get people to 110 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: be like, come on, this is for our collective liberation. 111 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 1: So how far are you willing to go? What risks 112 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: are you willing to take? Because personally, I don't want 113 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: to be here fifty years from now, still talking about 114 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: the legality of Rome, still trying to figure out how 115 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: to overcome all of these barriers, and I want to 116 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: experience reproductive justice in my lifetime, you know, not only 117 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 1: for me, but for future generations too. Would you be 118 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 1: open to sharing your abortion story? Wow? Like, I love 119 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: telling my story. Actually, one of the things that was 120 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 1: important to us and making this series was sharing first 121 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: person abortion stories because these restrictions, this Supreme Court reversal 122 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: affects real people, real lives, and real families. The stories 123 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 1: will share over the course of this series span generations, 124 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: socioeconomic status, is gender identities, and the country itself. When 125 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:08,839 Speaker 1: I had told him that I was pregnant, he was 126 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: kind of like, Okay, we'll go get an abortion, like 127 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 1: it was going to be so easy, like one too right. 128 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: I found out I was pregnant a week before sp 129 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: E went into effect. All I could think when I 130 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 1: called planned parenthood was I will not die because of 131 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 1: this pregnancy and because no one will listen to me 132 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 1: and no one will help me. We went home that 133 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:32,679 Speaker 1: day knowing that our pregnancy likely would need to be terminated, 134 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: but with no real clear answer on when we would 135 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: know exactly what was causing the issue. But there's a 136 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: lot of like big abortion clinics um around me where 137 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: they disguised themselves as oh, come here to seek you know, 138 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: you're pregnancy crisis, like abortion care, and they're not really 139 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 1: there to help you get an abortion. I just remember 140 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: walking in and seeing so many people boll there. So 141 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: we're still in the pandemic and there's at least fifty 142 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 1: people in that waiting room. And so that alone gave 143 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: me anxiety. And I called my insurance and I was confused, 144 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 1: and they explained that, oh, actually, only medically necessary abortions 145 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: are covered. I can't afford an abortion. I was a 146 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: Medicaid recipient and because of the Height Amendment that you 147 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: can't medicate recipients, can't you know, use their Medicaid to 148 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: cover abortion costs. It was also a full time student 149 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: at the time a couple of years emancipated from the 150 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: foster care system, so I was essentially like on my own. 151 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 1: I didn't have any money at the time. I was 152 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 1: working at like Planet Fitness, so a gym for like 153 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 1: ten dollars an hour. Despite this being the largest public 154 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: university in the state, the nearest clinic was over an 155 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: hour and a half away. I didn't have a car. 156 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: Public transit in Georgia is questionable at best. I almost 157 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 1: missed the twelve week mark down her because of how 158 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 1: it back up. But there is there's only one clinic 159 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: in my area that, um, you know, manages abortion here. 160 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: She refused to give me the medication because she was 161 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 1: afraid that I would change my mind. I didn't know 162 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 1: if it was actually gonna work. I didn't know if 163 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 1: I was going to bleed out. I didn't know what 164 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: to expect, even though I knew an abortion was what 165 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:27,079 Speaker 1: I wanted. I had spent so many years having shame 166 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: about abortion like instilled an ingrained into me that I 167 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: was too scared to ask any of my friends for help. 168 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: I think that was just like the hardest part of 169 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 1: it was the feeling that like internalized shame when I 170 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: knew there was nothing to be ashamed about. More than 171 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:55,559 Speaker 1: thirty people and county have shared their experiences for this project. 172 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: It's my producer, Lauren Hansen, who's been on the listening 173 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: end of most of these stories. Each person's story is unique. 174 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 1: Sometimes they're totally uneventful, and sometimes they're wrapped up in 175 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:14,679 Speaker 1: so much trauma and like this raw emotion. But then 176 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 1: a lot of them have these threads. Like every single 177 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,440 Speaker 1: person I have spoken to, no matter if they had 178 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: a support system around them, no matter if they were 179 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:30,200 Speaker 1: completely alone and scared, they all felt in some way 180 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: alone and they felt a lot of shame. And it's 181 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: remarkable to me that across decades, across race and class, 182 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: that is true with abortion stories, and it's crazy. And 183 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: that's what all those shout your abortion and we testify 184 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: groups are trying to do, is like this does not 185 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,439 Speaker 1: need to be the case. You yourself had an abortion 186 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 1: and it's something that you're willing to talk about now, 187 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 1: perhaps something that you didn't feel comfortable talking about before 188 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: you really explored this whole subject. What has made you 189 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: more willing to tell your story? I mean, it's so funny, 190 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 1: it's so true. I really hadn't told many people, and 191 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: then I started reporting this and I literally just started 192 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 1: saying the word abortion. It was like the word abortion 193 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: made me like talk smaller, you know, And by just 194 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: having these conversations, I would want more comfortable and someone 195 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: would share their story and I'd be like, well, actually, 196 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: I had an abortion too, and I felt like it 197 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 1: helped make us be more on the same page and 198 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:37,200 Speaker 1: make it like a safe space and to some degree 199 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:40,720 Speaker 1: I understood what they went through. So I actually, through reporting, 200 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: shared my story just one on one with a few people. 201 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: And I certainly felt that if I was asking others 202 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: to come to the table and share their story, that 203 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: I should absolutely do the same. So yeah, I was like, well, 204 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:54,439 Speaker 1: I might as well share my abortion story and tell me, 205 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 1: can you share it with me? Now? Yeah, it's well, 206 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: it's funny. It's definitely one of those that's not it's 207 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 1: not much of a story because I was so privileged 208 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:07,199 Speaker 1: to live in New York at the time, have insurance, 209 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 1: and I had a support system my boyfriend who became 210 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: my husband. We got pregnant. How old were you at 211 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: the time. I was twenty four and I've been out 212 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 1: of school for a few years. I had just gotten 213 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 1: what I considered like a real job. Um. I was 214 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: a publicist at an art book company and I was 215 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: being asked to like fly to London for this publicity 216 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: conference and I go to have what I thought was 217 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: my abortion. So I'm already like calling it my boss 218 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: and saying, I have a root canal. I can't come 219 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 1: in because I know nothing, you know nothing about the process. 220 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: And so I go in and I was really early. 221 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: I was so early that you couldn't see it in 222 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: the the sonogram that goes inside. And at that time, 223 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: which would have been two thousand and four, UM, I 224 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 1: guess you did have to see it, even in New York. 225 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: And so they were like, you have to come back. 226 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 1: So I made an appointment, but in between my I 227 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 1: had a week three weeks, so I was pregnant for 228 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 1: like three more weeks, which felt crazy to me. I 229 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: flew to London on that trip that I was so 230 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: excited about my first time abroad, and then I was 231 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: out at dinner with like the more senior women and 232 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: they were also cool, like they're editors of these art 233 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: books and I just loved everything about them. And one 234 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 1: of them was like, Lauren, how was that flight for you? 235 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: And I was like it was fine. They're like, you know, 236 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: because of the the root canal and I was like, yes, yes, 237 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: it actually now that you say it, and stopping to 238 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 1: eat and you know, just like falling over my lives 239 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: and we get I get back to New York and 240 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 1: my my appointment is coming up, and I went to 241 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: the Brooklyn based Planned Parenthood and I had my abortion. 242 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: It was unbelievably easy, I think it. I was there 243 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 1: for maybe like an hour, like remember like being given 244 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 1: cookies afterward and sitting in this room and there were 245 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: other women in this room and it felt like easy 246 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: and safe, and my boyfriend came and picked me up 247 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 1: and we walked. I remember walking back to his apartment 248 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,359 Speaker 1: and we watched the OC the rest of the afternoon 249 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 1: and it was so easy. But I what's crazy to 250 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: me looking back on how easy that was. And I 251 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: felt supported by my boyfriend. There was no question that 252 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: this was my decision, and we were both like a duh, 253 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 1: Like I just got this job, I had this whole 254 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: life ahead of me. But I never told anyone. I 255 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: lived with like four roommates at the time, and I 256 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 1: had the light of them or keep it quiet, and 257 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 1: and it was not for judgment. I mean maybe I 258 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: just didn't know. I didn't know how to share it. 259 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: It felt weird to share, so we just kept it 260 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: between us. And I never told my parents, and then, 261 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 1: you know, in preparation for this podcast, I was like, 262 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: I couldn't tell my parents. Like my parents are very 263 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: supportive people. So I was on vacation with them just 264 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: the other month and talking about doing this series, and 265 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: it was after dinner and I was like, well, actually 266 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 1: been meeting to tell you guys that twenty years ago 267 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 1: I had an abortion. And my mom goes, oh, I 268 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 1: actually had an abortion too, And I was like what 269 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:16,640 Speaker 1: And if we just talk about these things, you realize 270 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 1: like how common it is that thing of you know me? 271 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,600 Speaker 1: Like everybody does know someone who has an abortion and 272 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:24,679 Speaker 1: it doesn't have to be a story, or it can 273 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:28,159 Speaker 1: be traumatic, but it exists and it's necessary for that person, 274 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 1: whatever their reason is. We'll be right back. It's an 275 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:47,680 Speaker 1: extremely hot day here in Illinois. I am walking into 276 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 1: the Fairview Heights Planned Parenthood Facility and Regional Logistics Center 277 00:17:56,040 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: to talk to staff members, hopefully a uple of patients, 278 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 1: to really get a look at what life is like 279 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: in a clinic that provides abortion care. Let's go. This 280 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: is a new facility and it's really beautiful, supermodern, clean 281 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: and very cool. I might add, this Planned Parenthood clinic 282 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 1: is buzzing with activity compared to the Missouri clinic we 283 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:40,400 Speaker 1: visited just across the state line. And on the day 284 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: we're here, a patient is willing to share her story. Hi. 285 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:48,880 Speaker 1: How are you? Hi? I'm Katie. I'm Hannah. It's nice 286 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:51,360 Speaker 1: to Hannah, very nice to meet you too. Who's this? 287 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:58,679 Speaker 1: That's Azrael Hi? He is sixteen months. Anna and I 288 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 1: meet in the clinics family room, a bright, sunlit space 289 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:06,399 Speaker 1: with toys being bag strewn about and a giant blackboard 290 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:10,360 Speaker 1: with chalk and some leftover scribbles from other families who 291 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:13,479 Speaker 1: have also used the space. Hannah and I sit on 292 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: one of the great couches. Her son plays next to her. 293 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,679 Speaker 1: Tell me about yourself, Hannah. How old you are? And 294 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 1: you're thirty years old? Yes, God, it took thirty years 295 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 1: to get here, but I guess we're here now. And 296 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:31,359 Speaker 1: you have a little boy obviously sixteen months, Yes, I do. 297 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:33,399 Speaker 1: And I also have twin girls that are eight there 298 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 1: will be nine in June. Yes, so we have. We 299 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 1: got a full house at home, like, it's very full. 300 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,439 Speaker 1: Our family is. So it's not that I don't want kids, 301 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: I really do, but uh, this this time around was 302 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: just a bit different. We had some big plans and 303 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: so that those big plans really didn't include a little 304 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: bity one. Do you have a partner? I do? Yes, 305 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:00,439 Speaker 1: I have a boyfriend. We've been together for now almost 306 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:03,200 Speaker 1: two years. And how do How does he feel about 307 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 1: your decision to terminate the pregnancy. He doesn't know, He 308 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 1: doesn't know the plot thickens. He doesn't know what kind 309 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:15,119 Speaker 1: of hardship would it be for you to have another baby? 310 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 1: At this point? The more the merrier is what I've 311 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: always said, but I don't know with all the time 312 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 1: that I lost, I felt like I didn't lose the 313 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 1: time because I got to raise him, you know, for 314 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: the first year of his life. But I want my 315 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:37,879 Speaker 1: job back. I want a career, and I want my 316 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 1: children to know, like mommy went to school and mommy 317 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 1: does this now, and mommy makes money. You're here, You're 318 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 1: here to pick up a till to have a medication abortion? Yes, 319 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: why did you choose that? It was less invasive? And 320 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 1: it was also less time. I you that if we 321 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 1: had we had to take care of this, so to speak, 322 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:09,119 Speaker 1: in a god this sounds horrible, but in a in 323 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 1: a more secretive way, this was the best option. And 324 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:15,440 Speaker 1: we were early enough. You know, I caught it at 325 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:20,160 Speaker 1: like five weeks, so it was extremely early, and I 326 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: was like, I took probably about two two and a 327 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: half weeks to think about it, and then the rest 328 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: of the time was scheduling it. You couldn't get this 329 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:33,159 Speaker 1: in the state of Missouri, and so you had to 330 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 1: How far did you come? It's a three and a 331 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: half hour drive, but we took our time. We stopped 332 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: off with a candy story, you know, and stuff like that. 333 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 1: So yeah, I know. So it took took about five hours. 334 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: Took about five hours about that, Yeah, because we took 335 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 1: our time. Did the people in front of the clinic 336 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 1: try to pressure you or approach you? Yes? So that 337 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,360 Speaker 1: was as scary I thought they worked here. What did 338 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:03,360 Speaker 1: they say? They were talking about? How? She said, did 339 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 1: you have an ultrasound yet? Have you gone and seen 340 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:10,400 Speaker 1: the doctor? Every question under the sun. Hey, I'll adopt 341 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 1: your baby. She wanted to adopt my baby, and I 342 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 1: was like, you have no idea who I am. Would 343 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:18,120 Speaker 1: it be easier if you could do this near your 344 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 1: home in Missouri? Yes? Oh gosh, yes, so much easier 345 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:24,800 Speaker 1: if I didn't have to travel. I mean, do you 346 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:29,119 Speaker 1: know that I have had eleven dollars okay, eleven, and 347 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:31,320 Speaker 1: it was gonna get me lodging, It's gonna get the 348 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 1: five dollars for the pill, and then it's gonna get 349 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: me my gas. I drive a Yukon. It's the nineties. 350 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 1: It's a gas guzzler. So it's it's extremely extremely costly 351 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 1: to have to not be in my own stamped and 352 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 1: to have to not be near anybody that I know. 353 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 1: It like, I don't know anybody here you know, so 354 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 1: last night, and I didn't get to bring anybody either. 355 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:59,160 Speaker 1: So last night, you know, I had like a probably 356 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:01,120 Speaker 1: about an hour and a half off of just bawling, 357 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:05,200 Speaker 1: you know, so not being near my home. That also 358 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: stuff that I didn't have my best friend, my god, 359 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:15,440 Speaker 1: you know, so it sucked perfect finding your medicine here 360 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:18,399 Speaker 1: for you are writing my drugs man. Okay, so the 361 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 1: doctor has to be the one to give you the 362 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 1: first dose of medicine. Okay, this is the medicine that 363 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:24,679 Speaker 1: you're going to take home. Put all four tablets in 364 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:28,239 Speaker 1: between your teeth and your cheek, okay, and they need 365 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:30,119 Speaker 1: to be in there for at least thirty minutes, and 366 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: it's the exact twenty four or forty eight hours between 367 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 1: twenty four I'm just making sure I get this, okay, Okay, awesome. 368 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:49,400 Speaker 1: There's two types of abortion. There's medication abortion, and then 369 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: there's what we call procedural abortion. I know it's commonly 370 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:56,159 Speaker 1: referred to as surgical, but I think that can be 371 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 1: really scary for patients to hear because it's, you know, 372 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,919 Speaker 1: a surgery. Sounds gets really intense, and we're not actually 373 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:05,479 Speaker 1: doing any cutting. We're not using a scalpel. We're actually 374 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 1: using an opening that already exists in the body to 375 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 1: remove the pregnancy from the uterus. My name is Dr 376 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:15,240 Speaker 1: Mira Shaw and I am a family medicine physician. I 377 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 1: am the chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Heads of 378 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: Mechanic in New York. I'm also the medical director of 379 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 1: Whole Women's Health Alliance in South Bend, Indiana. So the 380 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 1: other method of abortion is medication abortion. It's a process 381 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:34,359 Speaker 1: where patients take first one pill called Mifie prestone. And 382 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 1: what Miffi pristone does is it stops the pregnancy from 383 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:41,919 Speaker 1: growing and from thriving in the uterus. It is safe 384 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 1: up to eleven weeks gestational age. And what patients do 385 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 1: is they first take the Miffie prestone and then they 386 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 1: follow up with four pills of a medication called missa Prostel. 387 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:57,720 Speaker 1: What missa Prostel does is that it induces cramping and 388 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 1: bleeding and expulsion of the pregnancy from the uterus. We 389 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: have patients typically take one set of four pills if 390 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 1: they're below nine weeks, if they're between nine and eleven weeks, 391 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:12,359 Speaker 1: and we'll have them take two sets of those four 392 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 1: pills four hours apart from one another. We provide them 393 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 1: with anti nausea medication because they may already be nauseous 394 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: from being pregnant, but sometimes the mesa prostyl can induce 395 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 1: nausea if they weren't already nauseous before um. And we 396 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:31,679 Speaker 1: also give them high dose ibprofen to help ease the 397 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 1: cramping that they that they will feel um while they're 398 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:38,639 Speaker 1: expelling the pregnancy. The way that the f d A 399 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:42,679 Speaker 1: has regulated NiFi pristone is it's kept it on the 400 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:47,199 Speaker 1: REMS list, which means that it is highly regulated and 401 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: restricted from being freely accessible to patients, and it makes 402 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 1: it harder for physicians to prescribe the medication. That said, 403 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: there's been a few changes in the in the past 404 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 1: few years. So when I first started out, it used 405 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:03,920 Speaker 1: to be that the patient had to take the medication 406 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:06,600 Speaker 1: in the office and we had to watch them swallow 407 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: the pill. There's no reason for this medically speaking, but 408 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 1: that was the case, and that you know, we follow 409 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 1: all the rules and so we were doing that. The 410 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:19,119 Speaker 1: FDA changed the labeling around Miffi pristone several years ago, 411 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 1: and New York State interpreted it in a way. That 412 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:27,240 Speaker 1: made it so that the physician could just administer the 413 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 1: Miffi pristone, but the patient could take it home and 414 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:36,200 Speaker 1: start the process when they felt most comfortable. Another more 415 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:40,120 Speaker 1: recent change is that abortion medication can now be mailed 416 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:43,160 Speaker 1: to patients instead of them having to come into their 417 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 1: local health center. This was a temporary pandemic allowance that 418 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 1: became permanent. The patient receives an appointment through a teleconferencing 419 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:59,920 Speaker 1: platform through our protected electronic medical record. We date the 420 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:04,480 Speaker 1: pregnancy based on their last menstrual period, and if we 421 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:07,400 Speaker 1: feel confident in their dates and that they meet criteria 422 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:11,120 Speaker 1: um of less than eleven weeks and they have no 423 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 1: medical contra indications, which you know most people don't, then 424 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:18,439 Speaker 1: we can mail the Miffi perstone and the MISO to 425 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 1: their home. That said, this is the case in New York, 426 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:27,560 Speaker 1: this is not the case everywhere. So in Indiana, for example, 427 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 1: um where I'm a medical director of a clinic, there 428 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 1: there is an outright ban on telemedication abortion, not telemedicine, 429 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 1: but telemedication abortion. In Indiana, the individual still has to 430 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,840 Speaker 1: go to a health center in order to get the medication. 431 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 1: So whenever they come in for the appointment is when 432 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 1: the process is initiated. The government has essentially taken that 433 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:57,720 Speaker 1: autonomy out of the patient's hands. It's really hard for 434 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:02,000 Speaker 1: me to see restrictions just get worse over time. But 435 00:28:02,119 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: last time I was in Indiana, I was told that 436 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:08,240 Speaker 1: we now have to give a copy of the ultrasound 437 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:11,440 Speaker 1: image to the patient, whether they ask for it or not. 438 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:14,199 Speaker 1: In some states they have to actually look at it 439 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 1: or hear the sounds of the cardiac activity, but in Indiana, 440 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 1: we have to actually give them a copy of the ultrasound. 441 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 1: I just tell them that this is a law, and 442 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:28,560 Speaker 1: I put the image in a Manila envelope and then 443 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 1: give it to them and say, you can do what 444 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 1: you want with this, but it is required by law 445 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 1: that I give it to you. And I apologize for 446 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:39,120 Speaker 1: that because I don't think that it's medically necessary. Every 447 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:42,320 Speaker 1: time I go to Indiana, I'm shocked it hasn't become 448 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:47,479 Speaker 1: normalized for me because I am able to provide a 449 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 1: very different type of care to my patients in New York. 450 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 1: And you know, the zip code in which you live 451 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 1: should not determine the type of healthcare that you receive, 452 00:28:56,200 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 1: but unfortunately that is the case, we'll be right back. Alright, 453 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 1: So we're gonna walk to the back um, which is 454 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 1: in our recovery area, so you can meet Dr Bomb, 455 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 1: which is one of our A B providers and he's 456 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:24,520 Speaker 1: also our medical director. All right, follow me this way. 457 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:28,000 Speaker 1: Back at the Missouri Clinic, I met with Dr Margaret Bomb. 458 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 1: Dr Bomb, how are you very nice to meet? Since 459 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 1: there weren't any patients there, we sat in two chairs 460 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:41,240 Speaker 1: in the recovery room. How difficult or challenging has it 461 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 1: been for you to work in the state of Missouri. Oh, 462 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 1: that's a good question. You are in the only freestanding 463 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:52,800 Speaker 1: abortion providing facility in Missouri, and we are, as you know, 464 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 1: right at the Illinois border. And that is an advantage 465 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:58,959 Speaker 1: for us, but not an advantage for everyone else. Right, 466 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 1: the vast majority of oriens don't live right here in St. Louis. 467 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 1: Missouri has some of the strictest restrictions on abortion in 468 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 1: the country. So we have a seventy two hour waiting period, 469 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 1: means patients have to come twice correct, And in fact 470 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:17,360 Speaker 1: what that means is right now, there are only two 471 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 1: of us that provide abortions here at this facility in 472 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:23,040 Speaker 1: the entire state, myself and my partner, and so we 473 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:26,280 Speaker 1: do other things too, which I'm not available to be 474 00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:29,680 Speaker 1: here to do abortions every seventy two hours. So if 475 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 1: you want an abortion in Missouri, you either have to 476 00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: see myself or my partner. So part of the law 477 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: is that actually for your first visit, the consent visit 478 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:42,000 Speaker 1: has to be done by a physician, which is certainly 479 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:44,280 Speaker 1: not the case in most places, and it has to 480 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:47,760 Speaker 1: be done by the physician who will then perform the abortion. 481 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:52,120 Speaker 1: So today I have four patients who are scheduled to 482 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:55,000 Speaker 1: see me to just do a consent process. I don't 483 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:57,040 Speaker 1: know where they're coming from. They could be coming from, 484 00:30:57,080 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 1: you know, five hours away in Missouri, they could be 485 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:01,479 Speaker 1: coming from St. Louis, I don't know. And then they 486 00:31:01,520 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 1: will be scheduled for their procedure in a week. So 487 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:05,480 Speaker 1: that means number one, they have to wait a week 488 00:31:05,640 --> 00:31:09,600 Speaker 1: to have their procedure and have their pregnancy progress another week, well, 489 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:12,200 Speaker 1: because that's the next time I am here providing services. 490 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:15,680 Speaker 1: And if something happens, so if they get sick, or 491 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 1: they don't have childcare, or their work says you can't 492 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 1: be off next Wednesday, or I get sick and I 493 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:23,560 Speaker 1: can't come in. They can't have their procedure with my partner. 494 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:26,960 Speaker 1: They would have to recome back and consent with her 495 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 1: or consent with me, wait another week and have their procedure. 496 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 1: What other obstacles have they put up in this um? So? 497 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:41,719 Speaker 1: Missouri has mandated pelvic exams with abortions, and so for 498 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 1: a surgical abortion, we do pelvic exams. That's part of 499 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 1: the procedure. I'm going to be instrumenting your pelvis and 500 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 1: your uterus. I'm going to do an exam before I 501 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:53,200 Speaker 1: do it. Completely normal. They also mandated pelvic exams with 502 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:57,760 Speaker 1: medication abortions, so that is completely unindicated. So if I 503 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:01,320 Speaker 1: see someone in Illinois for a medication an abortion, uh, 504 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:04,560 Speaker 1: typically they get an ultrasound. I review the ultrasound. I 505 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:07,320 Speaker 1: talked to them. Nobody takes any clothes off. I give 506 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 1: them the pill, they take the second pill at home. 507 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:12,520 Speaker 1: They have their medication abortion at home. There's no need 508 00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:15,800 Speaker 1: to do a pelvic exam. And in fact, we really 509 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:19,520 Speaker 1: have equated this to your dermatologists saying I'm going to 510 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:21,760 Speaker 1: take that mole off your arm, let me do a 511 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 1: pelvic exam first. It's completely inappropriate right to insist that 512 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:28,680 Speaker 1: someone takes off their pants that I touched their genitals 513 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,560 Speaker 1: when it is not indicated. So we as a practice 514 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:34,240 Speaker 1: decided that medication abortions will not be offered in Missouri. 515 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:37,120 Speaker 1: You can't get a pill abortion in Missouri. So what 516 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:42,720 Speaker 1: is the rationale by lawmakers to mandate that. Well, that's 517 00:32:42,720 --> 00:32:45,200 Speaker 1: a good question. I mean, this is where where you 518 00:32:45,280 --> 00:32:49,120 Speaker 1: really see that they do not understand the process that 519 00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:52,800 Speaker 1: we're doing. Right, there is there is. I can't imagine 520 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 1: why I would need to do a pelvic exam before 521 00:32:55,280 --> 00:32:58,040 Speaker 1: a medication abortion. It would not give me any information 522 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:00,360 Speaker 1: that would make me say, yes, the patient should have 523 00:33:00,360 --> 00:33:03,360 Speaker 1: a medication abortion. No, they shouldn't. I should recommend some 524 00:33:03,440 --> 00:33:06,600 Speaker 1: alternative alternative procedure. I can't imagine this in a medical 525 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:09,560 Speaker 1: correct scenario in which that would happen. It is a 526 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:13,160 Speaker 1: barrier to care. They are putting up additional barriers to 527 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 1: make it harder and harder for patients in Missouri to 528 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:23,120 Speaker 1: access abortion services. So, speaking of things that make things 529 00:33:23,160 --> 00:33:27,880 Speaker 1: difficult in Missouri, this is Missouri's in form consent booklet. 530 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:30,440 Speaker 1: We have to give this to every patient presenting for 531 00:33:30,480 --> 00:33:32,400 Speaker 1: an abortion of Missouri. Now what I say is I 532 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:34,040 Speaker 1: have to give this to you. You don't have to 533 00:33:34,080 --> 00:33:36,040 Speaker 1: read it, and you can leave it, you know, on 534 00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 1: the table, but we have to give this to you. 535 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:43,000 Speaker 1: This is how it starts the life of each human 536 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:45,600 Speaker 1: being begins a conception. Abortion will terminate the life of 537 00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:49,320 Speaker 1: a separate, unique, living human being. I mean, that's that's 538 00:33:49,320 --> 00:33:54,280 Speaker 1: not medical information, correct. Um. So this is full of 539 00:33:54,680 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 1: all kinds of misleading facts that we are required to 540 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:02,720 Speaker 1: give to patients. This is the informed consent form that um, 541 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:04,600 Speaker 1: we have to fill out again that the physician has 542 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:06,600 Speaker 1: to fill out most of with a patient seven two 543 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:10,480 Speaker 1: hours at least before their procedure. So some of this, 544 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:12,760 Speaker 1: you know, you have to know the name of the physician, 545 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:16,200 Speaker 1: Ask questions, okay, and then the nurse does most of this. 546 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:19,680 Speaker 1: And then I am required to read this paragraph to 547 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:24,800 Speaker 1: every patient that says the immediate and long term medical 548 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:27,840 Speaker 1: risks to me associated with the proposed abortion, including but 549 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:31,279 Speaker 1: not limited to, infection, hemorrhage, cervical tear, or uterine perforation, 550 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:34,440 Speaker 1: harm to subsequent pregnancies or the ability to carry a 551 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:38,640 Speaker 1: subsequent child to term, and possible adverse psychological effects. That 552 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:41,920 Speaker 1: sounds really scary, doesn't it? And it's not true. No, 553 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:44,160 Speaker 1: I mean there are with any procedure, there are risks. 554 00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:47,400 Speaker 1: The risks are very minimal with abortion. But this maximizes 555 00:34:47,920 --> 00:34:51,560 Speaker 1: the risks and minimizes how actually safe that abortion is 556 00:34:51,960 --> 00:34:57,120 Speaker 1: and doesn't minimize your your chances of getting pregnant. So 557 00:34:57,320 --> 00:34:59,600 Speaker 1: some of the some of these are just blatant correct, 558 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:01,880 Speaker 1: And I I always say, I didn't you know, doctors 559 00:35:01,880 --> 00:35:04,560 Speaker 1: did not write this. This was written by legislators. But 560 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:08,040 Speaker 1: I am required to read this and give this information 561 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:13,279 Speaker 1: to a patient when this clinic closes, because Missouri has 562 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,920 Speaker 1: a trigger law right if ROW is overturned, like I 563 00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:21,200 Speaker 1: believe twenty six other states, they will make abortion illegal 564 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:25,160 Speaker 1: in those states. So this clinic will, I guess the 565 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:28,400 Speaker 1: abortion care part of this clinic will have to shut down. 566 00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:32,360 Speaker 1: That is correct, abortion services we will only provide at 567 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:36,040 Speaker 1: our Illinois location. What will that mean for the women 568 00:35:36,080 --> 00:35:41,120 Speaker 1: of Missouri? So it's it's a little bit additional travel. 569 00:35:41,320 --> 00:35:43,680 Speaker 1: And so you know, if you're already coming three or 570 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:47,240 Speaker 1: four hours from Springfield, Missouri, you know is another twenty 571 00:35:47,239 --> 00:35:51,440 Speaker 1: minutes into Illinois, you know, so much bigger? Um? Maybe not? 572 00:35:51,680 --> 00:35:54,839 Speaker 1: But also I do feel like there is there that's 573 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:57,479 Speaker 1: a barrier, right to say you have to leave your state, 574 00:35:57,600 --> 00:35:59,840 Speaker 1: the state in which you live and pay taxes and 575 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:02,640 Speaker 1: send your children to school, to go to another state 576 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:07,279 Speaker 1: to have again a legal, normal medical procedure, that that 577 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:10,040 Speaker 1: is a barrier. It feels like that we are not 578 00:36:10,120 --> 00:36:12,880 Speaker 1: taking care of the patients that I live in Missouri. 579 00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:15,000 Speaker 1: I grew up here in Missouri, I have a family here, 580 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:18,920 Speaker 1: and I wanted to work here and provide care, and 581 00:36:19,239 --> 00:36:22,800 Speaker 1: certainly this has become a Missouri has made it extremely 582 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:30,719 Speaker 1: difficult to do so. Meanwhile, other states like New York, California, 583 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:35,080 Speaker 1: and Illinois are expanding their services and preparing for the 584 00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:40,120 Speaker 1: upcoming influx of out of state abortion patients. Attached to 585 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:43,200 Speaker 1: the clinic that I visited in Illinois is the brand 586 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:47,680 Speaker 1: new Regional Logistics Center. It's kind of like an abortion 587 00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:52,840 Speaker 1: fund meets travel agent meets doctor's office. It's abortion Care 588 00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:57,480 Speaker 1: of the future. The center's president, joem Elci Rodriguez, shows 589 00:36:57,480 --> 00:37:02,680 Speaker 1: me around. This is the our facility that we just 590 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:06,480 Speaker 1: open in January. So this is the hard where we're 591 00:37:06,520 --> 00:37:10,120 Speaker 1: doing all of the navigation work, on the scheduling, providing 592 00:37:10,160 --> 00:37:15,759 Speaker 1: financial assistance, traveling um and other logistics accommodations. So this 593 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:20,080 Speaker 1: is like air traffic control for people who want to 594 00:37:20,080 --> 00:37:23,520 Speaker 1: get abortions but don't have the money or don't know 595 00:37:23,560 --> 00:37:27,520 Speaker 1: where to go, maybe need transportation, hotel rooms. Before it 596 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:30,279 Speaker 1: was very piecemeal. You just had to kind of try 597 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:32,799 Speaker 1: to put put the pieces of the puzzle together to 598 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:35,520 Speaker 1: allow you to be able to do this correct and 599 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:37,680 Speaker 1: and that that was a whole vision behind this. Right, 600 00:37:37,719 --> 00:37:40,399 Speaker 1: what if we can have just one the patient will 601 00:37:40,440 --> 00:37:43,560 Speaker 1: just have to make one phone call to one place, 602 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:46,359 Speaker 1: and we could connect them to all of the resources, 603 00:37:46,719 --> 00:37:49,879 Speaker 1: not just the abortional appointment, but all of the wraparound 604 00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:52,920 Speaker 1: really support that they were going to need to make 605 00:37:52,960 --> 00:37:55,640 Speaker 1: it to an appointment. And we build it thinking, you know, 606 00:37:55,880 --> 00:37:57,200 Speaker 1: we know that there's going to be a lot of 607 00:37:57,200 --> 00:38:00,239 Speaker 1: women from Missouri that are going to come here. But 608 00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:03,239 Speaker 1: what we've seen in the patient that the support person 609 00:38:03,280 --> 00:38:06,359 Speaker 1: I was talking to just came from Texas, you all 610 00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:09,720 Speaker 1: are going to be very busy. We have been very busy. 611 00:38:10,120 --> 00:38:13,680 Speaker 1: Certainly after the Texas abortion man. There has been this 612 00:38:13,840 --> 00:38:17,960 Speaker 1: ripple effect or patients are been displaced right from their 613 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:21,040 Speaker 1: home state and everybody has been forced to travel x 614 00:38:21,040 --> 00:38:25,600 Speaker 1: amount of time because there's just not enough providers out there. 615 00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:31,759 Speaker 1: This facility. It's expecting fourteen thousand additional patients a year 616 00:38:33,080 --> 00:38:41,040 Speaker 1: if Row falls. What is the impact of this decision. 617 00:38:41,960 --> 00:38:45,680 Speaker 1: It's hard to overstand. This is Mary Ziggler, she's one 618 00:38:45,719 --> 00:38:50,160 Speaker 1: of the country's pre eminent abortion legal scholars. We spoke 619 00:38:50,200 --> 00:38:54,000 Speaker 1: after the Supreme Court draft was leaked, a draft Politico 620 00:38:54,160 --> 00:38:59,680 Speaker 1: called a full throaded, unflinching repudiation of the ninety three 621 00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:03,160 Speaker 1: just viition. Oh yeah, there's no question. I mean it's 622 00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:06,799 Speaker 1: I don't know how much more full throated or repudiation 623 00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:09,440 Speaker 1: you could have, so that that characterization of the draft 624 00:39:09,480 --> 00:39:12,520 Speaker 1: is absolutely right. I mean, they're going to be impacts 625 00:39:12,600 --> 00:39:17,880 Speaker 1: on on lots of people's lives, people who can be pregnant, um, 626 00:39:17,960 --> 00:39:19,880 Speaker 1: just as was the case with the War on drugs. 627 00:39:19,880 --> 00:39:22,560 Speaker 1: We would expect those impacts to be felt the most 628 00:39:22,560 --> 00:39:25,719 Speaker 1: acutely by people who are in the most heavily policed communities, 629 00:39:25,719 --> 00:39:27,319 Speaker 1: who are the people are most likely to be found 630 00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:30,680 Speaker 1: out if they're having abortions. There will be people impacts 631 00:39:30,680 --> 00:39:34,480 Speaker 1: on people who never seek abortions, because doctors will be 632 00:39:34,520 --> 00:39:38,120 Speaker 1: reluctant to treat ectopic pregnancies or incomplete miscarriages or other 633 00:39:38,160 --> 00:39:41,120 Speaker 1: things that may be perceived as abortion because they're unwilling 634 00:39:41,160 --> 00:39:43,759 Speaker 1: to lose their licenses or go to prison. Um. It's 635 00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:46,279 Speaker 1: going to affect people in blue states who are going 636 00:39:46,320 --> 00:39:49,520 Speaker 1: to see people traveling from out of state to seek abortions. Um. 637 00:39:49,520 --> 00:39:51,719 Speaker 1: It's going to affect doctors in blue states who may 638 00:39:51,719 --> 00:39:55,360 Speaker 1: be potentially sued or charged with a crime in red states. 639 00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:58,040 Speaker 1: It's going to shake up the two mid terms, it's 640 00:39:58,040 --> 00:40:01,239 Speaker 1: going to shake up the presidential elections, and you know 641 00:40:01,280 --> 00:40:03,040 Speaker 1: as a historian, and it also is going to have 642 00:40:03,120 --> 00:40:06,040 Speaker 1: unpredictable effects. Right. I think the Supreme Court felt very 643 00:40:06,040 --> 00:40:08,759 Speaker 1: confident in nine three that it knew what would happen 644 00:40:08,760 --> 00:40:11,279 Speaker 1: after Robie Wade was reversed. And of course we know 645 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:14,279 Speaker 1: fifty years later that they were absolutely wrong. Um. And 646 00:40:14,320 --> 00:40:17,200 Speaker 1: there's no reason to think that we can absolutely predict 647 00:40:17,239 --> 00:40:19,560 Speaker 1: what's going to happen after this decision in much the 648 00:40:19,600 --> 00:40:22,080 Speaker 1: same way. How were they wrong? Can you give us 649 00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:25,600 Speaker 1: some insight into that? Yeah, I mean Justice Blackman had 650 00:40:25,640 --> 00:40:27,960 Speaker 1: a clipping in his files that said, essentially, you know, 651 00:40:28,040 --> 00:40:30,480 Speaker 1: seventy something percent of Americans think of Worshi should be 652 00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:32,560 Speaker 1: a decision between a woman and her doctor. The numbers 653 00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:35,480 Speaker 1: were very similar then as now, and so he thought, okay, well, 654 00:40:35,520 --> 00:40:37,439 Speaker 1: if if the Court says it worshions a decision between 655 00:40:37,480 --> 00:40:39,640 Speaker 1: a woman and her doctor, and there's a sound constitutional 656 00:40:39,680 --> 00:40:42,200 Speaker 1: foundation for that, people are going to just accept that 657 00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:44,880 Speaker 1: and move on. And we know that didn't happen. This 658 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:47,160 Speaker 1: Supreme Court somehow seems to think that if it sends 659 00:40:47,200 --> 00:40:49,640 Speaker 1: this back to the States with lots of winks and nudges, 660 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:52,719 Speaker 1: that maybe other precedents can be overturned and maybe if 661 00:40:52,760 --> 00:40:55,520 Speaker 1: petal personhood is going to be recognized, this is going 662 00:40:55,560 --> 00:40:58,440 Speaker 1: to go away when that opinion will be running against 663 00:40:58,640 --> 00:41:01,759 Speaker 1: popular opinion that it's insane. Right, So people are sort 664 00:41:01,800 --> 00:41:04,799 Speaker 1: of like this is all over, just really whether their 665 00:41:04,800 --> 00:41:07,080 Speaker 1: appro choice or per life or not paying attention, like 666 00:41:07,120 --> 00:41:08,960 Speaker 1: this is going to just be the opening salvo in 667 00:41:08,960 --> 00:41:11,759 Speaker 1: a much much longer battle. Um, and people I would 668 00:41:11,800 --> 00:41:13,799 Speaker 1: imagine who support abortion rates are going to be in 669 00:41:13,800 --> 00:41:15,440 Speaker 1: this for the long haul. Two And we may be 670 00:41:15,560 --> 00:41:17,840 Speaker 1: looking at, you know, decades down the road, a Supreme 671 00:41:17,840 --> 00:41:21,799 Speaker 1: Court decision reinstituting abortion rates. So if the Court thinks 672 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:23,800 Speaker 1: it can put an end to this one way or another, 673 00:41:23,920 --> 00:41:26,279 Speaker 1: or it can remove itself from the conversation. It has 674 00:41:26,320 --> 00:41:34,400 Speaker 1: another thing coming. This is called why We Hold Our 675 00:41:34,440 --> 00:41:40,839 Speaker 1: Tongues Finally, a poem by Sonya Renee Taylor. To say 676 00:41:40,880 --> 00:41:43,440 Speaker 1: I had an abortion is to join the blood covered 677 00:41:44,080 --> 00:41:47,200 Speaker 1: to be sister with the worst of our ilk, sister 678 00:41:47,280 --> 00:41:50,480 Speaker 1: with the one who strapped hers and seatbelts, sit the 679 00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:54,600 Speaker 1: car skipping like rocks, to drop in a lake. Sister 680 00:41:54,680 --> 00:41:57,360 Speaker 1: with the hand that pressed her five children to the 681 00:41:57,400 --> 00:42:01,400 Speaker 1: liquid casket of a bathtub. This is to say, I 682 00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:04,279 Speaker 1: know how people will clutch their grace until I bring 683 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:07,799 Speaker 1: them an amulet of sorrow. How this hive expects my 684 00:42:07,920 --> 00:42:11,759 Speaker 1: sales turn regret. If not a baby, at least bring 685 00:42:11,920 --> 00:42:15,600 Speaker 1: us the seregacy of your shame. To say the word 686 00:42:15,680 --> 00:42:20,040 Speaker 1: abortion is to say I am ashamed thing a womb 687 00:42:20,080 --> 00:42:24,520 Speaker 1: turned earned. It is to say I killed, died, and dead. 688 00:42:24,600 --> 00:42:26,680 Speaker 1: As I speak to you now, it is to say, 689 00:42:26,760 --> 00:42:29,680 Speaker 1: even my teeth wish to flee my mouth, the leper 690 00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:33,120 Speaker 1: of my gums. I must be liar, Please be liar. 691 00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:36,040 Speaker 1: If I say I'm not sad, to say I'm not 692 00:42:36,160 --> 00:42:39,080 Speaker 1: sad is to say I am monster. I am heartless 693 00:42:39,120 --> 00:42:42,600 Speaker 1: as tile a physician's claw is to say I am 694 00:42:42,680 --> 00:42:46,879 Speaker 1: receptacle food made rancid by my own hands. Can you 695 00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:51,840 Speaker 1: smell my stink? The rotting of me? To say I 696 00:42:51,880 --> 00:42:55,239 Speaker 1: called the clinic on a Tuesday night, made an appointment 697 00:42:55,280 --> 00:42:59,640 Speaker 1: for Wednesday morning, It's never to say I was nineteen, 698 00:43:00,360 --> 00:43:04,480 Speaker 1: he was nineteen. Our teenage mothers began dissolving our futures 699 00:43:04,480 --> 00:43:07,279 Speaker 1: and crack pipes when we were five. Never that he 700 00:43:07,360 --> 00:43:11,000 Speaker 1: washed the dishes of American dreamers till his hands callous. 701 00:43:11,239 --> 00:43:13,919 Speaker 1: Never my wins at their touch. Never that a black 702 00:43:13,960 --> 00:43:16,600 Speaker 1: girls to wish him for a better life is fourteen 703 00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:20,600 Speaker 1: hour work days plus classes. Less the glass slipper fairy 704 00:43:20,600 --> 00:43:24,520 Speaker 1: tale of a stripper's pole, an old man Semen find her? 705 00:43:25,080 --> 00:43:29,239 Speaker 1: Never that I almost chose an old man Semen To 706 00:43:29,400 --> 00:43:33,400 Speaker 1: say when the nurse handed me a photo a marble 707 00:43:33,480 --> 00:43:37,040 Speaker 1: of tissue growing, I only asked if I would feel 708 00:43:37,080 --> 00:43:40,759 Speaker 1: better when it was done. Is never to say we 709 00:43:40,800 --> 00:43:43,400 Speaker 1: would have just been another thing for you to hate. 710 00:43:44,080 --> 00:43:48,280 Speaker 1: A food stamp, tick, fat lazy breeder, did be prison number, 711 00:43:48,520 --> 00:43:51,680 Speaker 1: a white trash trailer hitch, a rape, a black boy 712 00:43:51,719 --> 00:43:54,759 Speaker 1: with a gun and no daddy, A bitter, exhausted nail 713 00:43:55,080 --> 00:43:59,000 Speaker 1: holding up our own crucifixion a thing to pity, promote, 714 00:43:59,360 --> 00:44:03,200 Speaker 1: donate to a poverty gutter. To gather your own reigning 715 00:44:03,280 --> 00:44:08,080 Speaker 1: self esteem in To say I cried from my best 716 00:44:08,120 --> 00:44:10,920 Speaker 1: friend as I took my panties down and laid on 717 00:44:10,960 --> 00:44:14,440 Speaker 1: the table is to sever the stitch of shame, To 718 00:44:14,560 --> 00:44:17,520 Speaker 1: let the milk of this choosing spill from me until 719 00:44:17,560 --> 00:44:20,600 Speaker 1: I am fresh vessel. It is to unlatch my wrist 720 00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:24,279 Speaker 1: bound in penance to the unhelpful, to the watchers with 721 00:44:24,320 --> 00:44:27,560 Speaker 1: only birds to give. To say the doctor's face was 722 00:44:27,600 --> 00:44:30,360 Speaker 1: a blur of soft cotton, but his voice was a 723 00:44:30,440 --> 00:44:34,200 Speaker 1: crisp still speculum is to free the pigeon of truth 724 00:44:34,280 --> 00:44:37,719 Speaker 1: from its cage, so that it might return dove. To say, 725 00:44:37,760 --> 00:44:40,759 Speaker 1: in the recovery room, I smelled the twenty shades of 726 00:44:40,800 --> 00:44:44,600 Speaker 1: Crimson escape fleeing down all the women's thighs is to 727 00:44:44,719 --> 00:44:48,960 Speaker 1: say I am seer and to story and conqueror and 728 00:44:49,080 --> 00:44:53,759 Speaker 1: scared teenage girl thirteen credits shy of statistic to say 729 00:44:53,800 --> 00:44:56,520 Speaker 1: that I have never spent three hundred and fifty dollars 730 00:44:56,560 --> 00:44:59,560 Speaker 1: more wisely is to hang my two degrees in a 731 00:44:59,640 --> 00:45:03,319 Speaker 1: house whose shoulders refused to slump. To stare down the 732 00:45:03,320 --> 00:45:06,640 Speaker 1: brick and backhand of this world without reproach in the 733 00:45:06,719 --> 00:45:09,799 Speaker 1: land that would sooner fuck or forget us, that would 734 00:45:09,880 --> 00:45:13,120 Speaker 1: rather see me orphan than owner of my own flesh. 735 00:45:13,160 --> 00:45:16,239 Speaker 1: To say that I did not choose to keep that 736 00:45:16,360 --> 00:45:20,400 Speaker 1: which I know would have been beautiful and brutal, is 737 00:45:20,440 --> 00:45:24,680 Speaker 1: to say unashamedly that I did choose life. To say 738 00:45:24,760 --> 00:45:30,040 Speaker 1: unapologetically that I did choose life. I did choose life 739 00:45:31,200 --> 00:45:50,600 Speaker 1: mine abortion. The Body Politic is executive produced by me 740 00:45:50,840 --> 00:45:55,080 Speaker 1: Katie Couric and was created by small team led by 741 00:45:55,160 --> 00:46:00,200 Speaker 1: our intrepid supervising producer Lauren Hansen. Editing and say ound 742 00:46:00,239 --> 00:46:04,759 Speaker 1: designed by Derrick Clements and Jessica krin Chich, researched by 743 00:46:04,840 --> 00:46:09,040 Speaker 1: Nina Perlman, and a special thanks to case Um producers 744 00:46:09,280 --> 00:46:11,760 Speaker 1: Courtney Litz and Adriana Fasio