Tennessee's Death Penalty Abortion Bill: Dr. Nikki Zite on What It Means for Women

Tennessee is considering legislation that would make abortion punishable by death. This is not hyperbole — it is a proposed law, and it is part of a broader pattern of legislation that has made Tennessee one of the most dangerous states in the country for people who need reproductive healthcare. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nikki Zite, a board-certified OB-GYN and complex family planning specialist practicing in Tennessee, to break down exactly what this legislation says, what it would mean in practice, and what it reveals about the political forces reshaping medicine in this country. We discuss: What Tennessee’s proposed death penalty abortion legislation actually contains How existing abortion restrictions have already transformed — and gutted — reproductive healthcare access in the state What it means to practice medicine when the law treats your clinical judgment as a criminal act The downstream effects on patients, training programs, and the future of OB-GYN care in restrictive states This conversation is essential listening for anyone who wants to understand where reproductive healthcare in America is headed — and what’s already been lost. Credits: Producer: Abraham Lyerly Music: Nic Tierman & Abraham Lyerly Graphics: Nathaniel Gonzalez