An Idaho doctor’s testimony revealed how fear and confusion caused by the state’s strict abortion bans left a miscarrying patient in medical limbo, underscoring the human toll of the legislation.
Dr. Julie Lyons, a family physician and plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging Idaho’s abortion laws, shared a troubling account in court on Tuesday. A pregnant patient with a nonviable pregnancy and life-threatening bleeding was repeatedly turned away from emergency care, only receiving critical treatment on her fourth ER visit in a week.
“My colleagues are so scared and confused to even mention the word [abortion]. It’s like a hot potato pass the patient around and hope something will happen,” Lyons said during her testimony.
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The patient, who was 14 weeks pregnant, had developed a subchorionic hemorrhage a severe condition where the placenta detaches from the uterus. Despite her worsening condition, including significant blood loss and anemia, hospital policies and fears around Idaho’s total abortion ban delayed her admission and care.
Dr. Lyons recounted how her team ultimately decided to admit the patient, defying hospital rules requiring pregnancies to be over 20 weeks for admission. “We couldn’t send her home again and hope for the best,” Lyons explained. Tragically, the patient suffered a miscarriage hours later, required a blood transfusion, and narrowly avoided further complications.
This testimony is part of a broader lawsuit brought by four Idaho women and two physicians against the state’s abortion bans, which include a total ban with limited exceptions and a six-week gestational limit. Women involved in the lawsuit have shared deeply personal stories of being denied care for nonviable pregnancies, forcing them to risk their health or travel to other states for medical assistance.
Another physician testifying in the case described transferring patients by plane to neighboring states for care, with even the fastest transfers taking over eight hours a dangerous delay for women in critical condition.
As the lawsuit unfolds, these stories highlight the challenges medical providers face under Idaho’s strict abortion laws and the potentially life-threatening consequences for patients.
