OPINION: Abortion misconceptions

It’s time to bluntly address a common misconception many Republicans have about abortion. Let’s be clear: Abortion is not recreational birth control for the sexually promiscuous. It is an emotionally devastating, life-saving procedure designed to protect a woman’s future.

Nurses, doctors and women on the frontlines of this issue share a clear picture of what abortion really means and the impacts of Idaho’s total ban. We should listen to their experiences. 

One nurse permitted me to share the following story:

“Imagine you are a pregnant woman living in rural North Idaho. You already have one child, delivered by cesarean section, and now, just barely in the third trimester of your second pregnancy, complications arise. You begin to experience contractions, slow at first but quickly intensifying. Soon, you notice you're bleeding. The pain worsens. The closest labor and delivery unit is 80 miles away in Coeur d'Alene. You dial 911, terrified for your child.”

She continues, “A ruptured uterus is a life-threatening emergency for both mother and baby. If this woman had quick access to an OB/GYN whose hands were not tied by restrictive laws, her already traumatic experience would have been less tragic. Unfortunately, her uterus ruptured, the baby died, and the mother was bleeding profusely. She survived, but only after a hysterectomy that left her unable to have more children.”

This heartbreaking story, and many others, are frankly nobody’s business. And yet brave women throughout Idaho and beyond are having to share what abortion care really looks like in order to protect it.

Another woman shared how the restriction of Mifepristone, a labor-inducing drug, is devastating Idaho women. Mifepristone is a drug that blocks a hormone called progesterone that is needed for a pregnancy to continue. Mifepristone, when used together with another medicine called misoprostol, is used to end a pregnancy through artificially induced labor. It is effective during the first and second trimesters. 

Did you know that when a woman miscarries, she still experiences labor pains? Sometimes, the pain of the dead baby leaving her body can last quite a while. Mifepristone allows the woman to go through this traumatizing experience on her own terms, on her own timeline. By timing a medically induced abortion with Mifepristone, the father could be there to also mourn their child. The woman could take planned time off work. The heartbreaking and excruciating process could be hastened, infection avoided and future fertility protected. 

Yet, Mifepristone is illegal in Idaho. 

When we are creating laws about health care, it is crucial to understand what we are actually talking about.

Pregnancy, even in the best circumstances, carries inherent risks. Complications like ectopic pregnancies, fetal demise or premature rupture of membranes can lead to serious harm or death for the mother if left untreated. Even a miscarriage, something many consider routine, can be dangerous if it’s not managed properly. In Idaho, all of these interventions fall under the legalities that govern abortion. 

Despite these dangers, Idaho is facing a serious health care crisis. Nearly a quarter of our OB/GYNs have left the state, and half of our high-risk obstetric specialists are gone. Three labor and delivery units have closed, and the state is struggling to recruit new physicians. Why would doctors want to practice here when they could risk losing their medical licenses — or even face jail time — for helping women navigate one of the most physically and mentally taxing times of their lives?

Idaho's abortion law, in its current form, is putting women and their babies at grave risk. The law is so ambiguously written that it leaves physicians afraid to act until it is too late. The result is a health care system that can no longer guarantee safe and timely care for women.

This is what we mean when we speak of abortion care. We are talking about some of the most horrific, heartbreaking experiences a parent can possibly experience. Rather than trusting women to make decisions on their own, Idaho legislators insert themselves into these awful and private scenarios. Painful emotional wounds for women across Idaho are ripped raw because politicians want to hop on a high moral horse. 

This is not about protecting life; it’s about control. The government has no right to make medical decisions for women. Our healthcare system should be defined by empowering women and the highly skilled physicians who help them, not politicians. Until that changes, the health and safety of women in Idaho will continue to be in jeopardy.

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.