In this recent Spectrum News story, Leah D. Tatum, MD, FACOG, Obstetrics/Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) at ARC North Austin Ob/Gyn, discussed how Texas abortion laws are affecting care for miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies. "Now we're in a situation where it challenges our ethics," says Dr. Tatum. Dr. Tatum is trying to navigate a new approach to health care in Texas caused by Senate Bill 4.
How Texas law affects care for miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies
"SB 4 has effectively made it more difficult for patients with spontaneous abortions to obtain medication for those types of situations where pharmacies aren't comfortable with prescribing medications that are clearly appropriate and not being used for elective abortions," said Dr. Tatum.
"It seems to have caused a lot of questions to come up for physicians, where we have to pause when we otherwise would have known what was best for the patient," she continued.
Prescribing medication in compliance with SB-4
Dr. Tatum says she has taken on the task of preparing patients for additional challenges when prescribing medications. In brief, the purpose of use has to be very clear that when prescribing one of the medications outlined in SB-4, to show that is not in violation of the SB-4 bill in Texas. "Sometimes I will send patients with their clinic notes that I would have never done before Senate Bill 4, and it seems especially hurtful to continue to have record of a miscarriage that you have to carry around with you. Seems to add extra stress to patients," she said.
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