Review and comment on proposed rules enforcing abortion restrictions

The recent cases of Brittany Watts in Ohio and Kate Cox in Texas serve as disturbing examples of the consequences faced by women in states with restrictive abortion laws. Despite “exceptions” written into these states’ laws, these women’s health emergencies were not just neglected; their personal tragedies were compounded by legal prosecution and denial of essential health care.

In Iowa, the Board of Medicine will hold a public hearing on its proposed rules for enforcing Gov. Kim Reynolds’ and Iowa Republican legislators’ abortion ban on Jan. 4 from 10 a.m. to noon at 6200 Park Avenue in Des Moines.

The proposed rules can be found at https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/aco/arc/7170C.pdf.

To submit public comments online, you can email Chrissy Grecco (Chrissy.Greco@iowa.gov) at the Iowa Board of Medicine by January 2.

I urge every Iowan to read the document and let the board know that no set of rules can ever adequately address the spectrum of pregnancy emergencies that could occur or make up for stripping us of the private reproductive health care decisions we are entitled to make for ourselves and our families.

Iowa’s abortion law has been stayed by the court — for now. But the Iowa Supreme Court will rule on it in 2024. If the law stands, these rules will go into effect. And Iowans will face the same dire situations as girls and women in other states.

Jodi O’Donnell

Ames