Vote Bohannan for reproductive choice

I’m a proud Iowan and a doctor. My dream for many years has been to return to my hometown after training and care for the people of our great state. Last year, I was incredibly disappointed when I heard that Iowa’s legislature had passed a bill banning abortions past six weeks of pregnancy. It’s devastating that efforts to block this law have failed. As a woman, I now question whether I can return to live in a state that disregards women’s rights. As a doctor, I’m not sure I could practice in a place that won’t allow patients to make their own health decisions.

Iowans a lot smarter than myself probably have similar misgivings and reservations. The National Bureau of Economic Research showed that Iowa ranked as the 10th-worst in the nation in terms of the ratio of the number of college graduates produced compared to how many reside in the state. Laws that discriminate against women and patients will not help reverse this “brain drain.” In addition, Iowa has the fewest physicians specializing in obstetrics and gynecology per capita of any U.S. state. This problem will only worsen with this restrictive law and further harm women.

Despite this doom and gloom, we cannot lose hope for a better future for Iowa. Regardless of your personal views on abortion, I urge you to fight for Iowans to have the right to choose. If you can, donate to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and vote for Christina Bohannan this fall.

Susanna Howard

Philadelphia, PA