After the unambiguous victory of Donald Trump, many Americans are worried about their right to abortion. More than two years after the Supreme Court struck down federal protection of this right, eight states have voted by referendum to expand access to abortion. Two others, Florida and Nebraska, have chosen to restrict it. These referendums were organized on Tuesday, November 5, at the same time as the presidential election, following petitions from citizens wishing to ensure reproductive rights. But in Georgia, a very conservative state, the law did not allow this referendum and the situation of pregnant women is critical.
The day after the election of Donald Trump, in the center of the Democratic city of Atlanta, many women are a little stunned. “In fact, we are afraid. We are afraid because he risks taking away women's rights, said one of them. That's awful.”.
But this is not the case for all women, like Reven, a young black woman, a declared and delighted Trumpist. “I am against abortion because it is murdershe said. This must be done on a case by case basis. But if there has been rape or if the mother is really at risk of dying, we can authorize it. But it should not be used as a form of contraception.”
Since the cancellation of federal protection in 2022, Georgia has very restrictive laws on abortion: it is only authorized during the first six weeks of pregnancy and, after that, only if the fetal heart does not beat. more or if the mother is in serious danger. Another law, passed by the Republican state, is denounced by the Democratic senator, Helena Parents.
“Doctors here can be prosecuted for a crime if they perform an abortion, they are afraid. Georgia has a sad record for the number of women dying due to pregnancy.”deplores the elected official. Officially, two pregnant women have died in the last two years due to a delay in care in this state which has 11 million inhabitants.
“Losing a baby is a sad and painful experience. But these laws enacted by our former future president have made it even more awful.”
Every Davies-Bell, who almost died from a miscarriageat franceinfo
Every Davies-Bell, a 34-year-old genetics researcher and already mother of a young child, was 18 weeks pregnant when she suffered a miscarriage. The baby she was expecting was no longer viable and she would have had to undergo emergency surgery. “My doctors had to wait until my life was in danger and it was unequivocalshe emphasizes. And if I didn't die, it's because they were excellent. But they have to juggle obstacles that have nothing to do with medicine, or saving lives, and have to do with the law.”
Added to this are the possible complications of these intervention delays which can lead to sterility. The conservative government of Georgia would now like to go further, by banning the morning after pill.
