Yesterday, Georgia Democrats held a press conference with community advocates and reproductive justice organizations— We are demanding a formal legal opinion from Governor and AG of Georgia’s abortion ban which has led to delayed care, preventable deaths and even an unusual interpertation of the law that requires brain dead women to be on life support to gestate a fetus.
We were honored to have Kaycee Maruscsak, share her story of how Georgia’s abortion ban affected her— where she was delayed miscarriage care because of the state’s ban—despite the risks of hemorrhage and death.
Repealing and supporting Georgia’s Reproductive Freedom Act is the only way to give women access to care they need and deserve. Without repeal, Georgians deserve to know what care they can access.
The Governor rebuked our press conference and efforts to clarify the law. His office has refused to use their authority to demand a legal opinion and instead insists on the press statement sent out by the AG’s spokesperson as a definitive answer. Georgia women and their families, doctors ands our hospitals need the law clarified by way of a legal opinion, my letter asked 4 basic questions—
1. Under Georgia law, including the current abortion statute, is a hospital legally required to maintain a brain-dead pregnant woman on life support in order to continue gestation of the fetus?
2. What are the precise definitions that constitute a “medical emergency” under this law?
3. When the law allows abortion in cases where the fetus is “incompatible with life,” what conditions meet that threshold — and why hasn’t the state made that explicit?
4. How does this law affect the legal standing of advance directives and end-of-life planning for pregnant Georgian
We will not stay silent and we demand answers.
Georgia’s maternal mortality rate remains one of the highest in the nation, at 37.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, with 87% of cases deemed preventable.
Reproductive healthcare is a human right and we will not stop fighting for our rights!