Unintended Consequences: Assessing the Impact of Dobbs v Jackson (2022) on the Provision of Maternal Healthcare in Cases of Obstetric Emergencies in the United States

Lauren Carson ’25, Political Science, Health Policy and Management, and Women’s and Gender Studies major Faculty mentor: Dr. Abigail Brooks, Women’s and Gender Studies The goal of this project is to assess the impact of the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) decision on the provision of maternal healthcare in the United States. Since the decision, many healthcare providers across the political spectrum and from a diversity of backgrounds have spoken out about state level restrictions on care, particularly in instances of obstetric emergencies. This project utilizes two case studies, Idaho and Texas, to analyze correlations between highly restrictive state level reproductive healthcare policy and the ability of healthcare providers to administer adequate care for patients in obstetric emergencies. I find that the intentionally narrow and limited exceptions to abortion bans in Idaho and Texas have immobilized providers and caused significant harm to patients experiencing obstetric emergencies.