Loss of abortion rights in Iowa

In her decades of practice in the field of obstetrics, Dr. Rebecca Shaw would care for women who believed they would never consider having an abortion. Occasionally, the patient’s circumstances changed, and they would face the choice on a different level. “Now I understand why it’s important to have a choice,” was the common response, said Shaw. She continued: “My views on abortion have been shaped profoundly by all the different, unbelievable, circumstances that I have seen in my over 40 years of practice; things that are just unimaginable.”In this podcast we explore what is happening in Iowa with people who know what the hell they are talking about, not spouting a grossly oversimplified talking point. Join me in considering the conversation we had on this Monday Zoom call. We’ve gone back in time when making the decision to end a pregnancy has become so difficult, it is creating chaos in the lives of so many women today. Many come to seek healthcare having no idea their right to bodily autonomy has been stripped from them, and they are facing a traumatic and terrifying reality. The state of Iowa is one of the worst examples of the disastrous, backwards, dare I say ill-conceived legislative actions in my lifetime. A six-week abortion ban is in effect, a total ban. Listen, and you’ll understand why. Compounding the degree of difficulty women face, finding a doctor in Iowa is becoming harder as a result. The state of Iowa is dead last in terms of per capita OBGYNs in the country. How does a training program in Iowa attract students to a state where they cannot learn the full scope of training? And why in the world would these students choose to stay in Iowa, when they can’t provide comprehensive care?So, here we are. Abortions won’t go away, just because the practice is illegal. We will simply go back to a time when they were not safe. Actress Sally Field bravely told her own story of the days before abortion was legal in this country. She reminded us of the days when women fled to Mexico for an abortion, as she did at age 17. In this video she recounts the horrific experience:Our Monday call was illuminating. In addition to our scheduled guests that reader Mary Riche put together for us, the participating readers had great insights. Laura Belin follows these and other issues closely as they move through the Iowa legislature, so could respond to another reader’s question about a technically inaccurate action the legislature made, and had to try to correct. Another featured guest was Mazie Stilwell, the Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood North Central States and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa. She oversees their advocacy and policy work, including lobbying at the Capitol and electoral programs.“We’re certainly at a critical moment when Iowans are heading to the polls for the first time since abortion rights have changed in the state,” said Stilwell. “We are just starting to see the impact of such a dangerous law…I would make the case that it’s never been more dangerous to be a pregnant woman in Iowa.”To have a better understanding why this is the case, I implore you to listen to this podcast, regardless of your personal views on the issue. We all learned a great deal from Dr. Shaw, Stilwell, Riche and others on the call. And share this, please! For more information about this issue, go to Iowans for Health Liberty. The Iowa Writers’ CollaborativeSave the date, December 13. The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative members and our alliance partner, Iowa Capital Dispatch, will hold a holiday reception for our paid subscribers and donors as a thank you for making this experiment in new media possible. We will gather in one of the newest buildings on Drake’s campus, the Tom and Ruth Harkin Institute for Public Policy, 2800 University Avenue, Des Moines. Please let us know if you can attend. Click: Holiday Party RSVP If you live outside of the Des Moines metro area and would like to take advantage of a discounted room at the Home2 Suites, near the Institute, please indicate so on the RSVP form. To subscribe to the Sunday Roundup of Iowa commentary: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe