Disagreement over abortion questions is dividing Georgians
ATLANTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Georgia women are sharing their stories about close calls due to Georgia’s Life Act.
The Georgia’s Life Act took effect after the overturn of Roe vs. Wade. It criminalizes abortions after six weeks with few exceptions. Doctors can face up to 10 years in prison.
Savannah mother Callie Beale-Harper said her daughter Kit was meant to have a twin brother. At her checkup, she could tell something was wrong by the look on the clinician’s face.
“I could tell immediately when they found my son that something was very wrong with him. His entire body was filled with fluid,” said Beale-Harper.
Her medical records show one twin had a significant cardiac defect. She said her doctors in Savannah recommended a selection procedure, but they could not intervene under Georgia law. At 16 weeks, she flew to New York to abort the nonviable twin, but back at home, she experienced complications that threatened her life and her daughter’s life.
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“It was enraging and devastating that not only was I mourning the loss of my son, but my healthy daughter’s life was at risk as well. Well, the fact that highly qualified doctors within my state were telling me that they couldn’t help me, I didn’t understand why it would happen,” said Beale-Harper.
Her story is similar to the story of Amber Nicole Thurman. News organization ProPublica reported the state of Georgia ruled the death of the 28-year-old mother could have been prevented.
Their reporting states Thurman was pregnant with twins. She took abortion pills but faced a rare complication. She was unable to expel fetal tissue from her womb and she ended up in the hospital where her organs began to fail.
According to ProPublica, doctors felt they couldn’t operate under Georgia’s abortion Law. When they finally did, it was too late.
Republican State Senator Ed Setzler said the state’s legislation is not to blame. He said Thurman’s death could be a medical malpractice claim. He said Democrats have made it easier for women to access chemical abortion pills.
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“Amber Nicole Thurman was a young woman who had a bright future ahead of her. We mourn with her family and the idea that the political left, the Democratic Party, under Kamala Harris is trying to use this tragedy, which is an indictment of their own policies, as a way to try to hold elections. Tells you everything you want to know about who Kamala Harris is,” said Setzler.
Former Atlanta mayor and former senior advisor to the president Keisha Lance Bottoms said the state’s law is putting Georgia women at risk.
“It’s very embarrassing for us as a state. We consider ourselves a very progressive state. We’ve led in civil rights. We’re leading in business and there’s so many things that we’ve gotten right. We’ve absolutely gotten this wrong,” said Lance Bottoms.
Beale-Harper said she now feels emboldened to share her story. She feels this is an issue that needs to be brought to light.
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