In 2020, 82 of Georgia’s 159 counties did not have a gynecologist/obstetrician, while another 15 had only one
Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates – with black women at even greater risk
Washington, D.C. – Georgia’s six-week abortion ban risks worsening the state’s shortage of ob-gyn and ob-gyn and making it harder for women to access health care, a Senate expert said today.
In a testimony before the US Senate Judiciary Committee, US Senator Jon Ossoff spoke with Dr. Nisha Verma, an Atlanta-based ob-gyn and ob-gyn, on Georgia’s maternal health care workforce shortage and how Georgia’s six-week abortion ban may be exacerbating this crisis.
Recent data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) shows that states like Georgia, where access to abortion is severely restricted, saw a 6.4% drop in applications for residency training for gynecologists and gynecologists this year.
“I’ve spoken to several medical students and residents who say they won’t stay in Georgia because they don’t want to be in an environment where they can’t practice evidence-based medicine and worry about whether they will prosecuted, their driver’s licenses revoked and their livelihoods threatened.” said dr Verma in her testimony.
As of 2020, 82 of Georgia’s 159 counties have no gynecologists/gynecologists, while another 15 have only one. Georgia also has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, with black women particularly at risk — according to the CDC, they are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications.
“More than half of Georgia’s counties have no OB/GYN at all. More than half of our state’s counties do not have a gynecologist and ob-gyn. said Senator Ossoff. “This risks exacerbating our shortage of qualified doctors. A six-week abortion ban in Georgia backed by threats of prosecution and imprisonment of doctors, and we see in the data that these laws discourage ob-gyns and ob-gyns from seeking residency in states with such laws.”
Please see Senator Ossoff’s question here.
Below is a transcript of Senator Ossoff’s interview.
IT IS. OSSOFF: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to all of the Witnesses who have joined us and shared your experiences and perspectives. It has had a tremendous impact hearing from you. Mr. Chairman, I would like to note and acknowledge that we have with us a doctor from Georgia and, Dr. Verma, thank you for your work in Georgia women’s health care at a time when Georgia women’s health care is poor attack by elected officials in Georgia.
“As you noted in your opening remarks, one of the most extreme laws in the country has been enacted, a six-week abortion ban that will go into effect before many women even know they are pregnant amid a public health crisis in our state. Mr. Chairman, I don’t know if you’ve heard these statistics, but more than half the counties in Georgia don’t have an OB/GYN at all. More than half of our state’s counties do not have OB/GYN services.
“We have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the United States. Worse, much worse for black women in Georgia and a shortage of qualified obstetrics and gynecology providers. That’s why I want Dr. Verma, chat with you as we reflect on the human health impact of Georgia’s extreme six weeks of abortion bans risk exacerbating our shortage of qualified doctors.
“I’m looking at data here from the Association of American Medical Colleges that shows new ob-gyns and ob-gyns are much less likely to apply to residency programs with extreme abortion bans like Georgia’s six-week ban. And I think we’re all aware of that, but, Dr. Verma, these doctors offer the full spectrum of perinatal care. So what does the state shortage of gynecologists and gynecologists mean for women in Georgia please Dr. Verma, based on your work experience?”
DR NISHA VERMA: “Thank you, Senator Ossoff. And thank you for all you do for healthcare providers and patients in Georgia. As such, I am very concerned that the Georgia law, our six-week ban, will exacerbate the lack of healthcare and affect providers who wish to enter OB/GYN and provide services in Georgia.
“I’ve spoken to several medical students and residents who say they won’t stay in Georgia because they don’t want to be in an environment where they can’t practice evidence-based medicine and worry about whether they will prosecuted, their driver’s license revoked and their livelihood threatened.
“The same procedures that we use to treat abortion are also used to treat miscarriage. The same drugs, the same procedures. That’s why I’ve spoken to trainees who are concerned that if they stay in Georgia they won’t get the training they need to care for someone who arrives at week 14 with profuse bleeding and that they will will not be able to get them the emergency care they need.
“From survey data, we know that 90% of gynecologists and gynecologists have reported that they have had a patient in the past year who required abortion treatment, and the vast majority have provided that patient with the treatment they need, even if you.” feel personally confronted with an abortion, even if they do not perform the abortion themselves. So this is something that gynecologists and gynecologists support. They want patients to get the care they need and they fear they won’t be able to practice evidence-based medicine in Georgia and are leaving.”
IT IS. OSSOFF: “To be clear, because I think it’s vitally important that Georgians understand this and that the Senate understands this: a six-week abortion ban in Georgia backed by threats of prosecution and imprisonment of doctors, and we see that in the Data These laws discourage ob-gyns and ob-gyns from pursuing residency in states with such laws.”
DR NISHA VERMA: “Absolutely. And you’re absolutely right in that it then affects not only that I’m performing abortions as a gynecologist, but also that I’m delivering babies. I’m doing gynecological surgeries, I’m doing cancer screening, I’m doing a comprehensive Obstetrics and gynecology, like a lot of gynecologists do, so this is going to affect not only access to abortion care, but access to all treatments, all reproductive health care in our state.
“I practice in Atlanta, where we have already seen the closure of a major medical system, which is having a devastating impact on our city’s access to healthcare. You’re absolutely right that half the counties in Georgia don’t have an OB/GYN. I expect it will get worse.”
IT IS. OSSOFF: “Thank you, Dr. verma. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
