A Case of Cervical Ectopic Pregnancy After the Dobbs Decision

N Engl J Med . 2025 Dec 18;393(24):2483–2484. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2508182. In a recent correspondence published in The New England Journal of Medicine , Clarissa P. Diniz and colleagues describe a case that highlights the clinical consequences of abortion restrictions following the 2022 US Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. Since that decision overturned federal protections for abortion access, 13 states have enacted complete abortion bans, and 7 additional states prohibit abortion at or before 18 weeks of gestation. Prior research conducted before the Dobbs ruling demonstrated that states with stricter abortion policies had higher maternal mortality rates compared to states with less restrictive laws. After the ruling, media accounts have documented instances in which patients experiencing ectopic pregnancies were reportedly denied necessary medical care in states enforcing abortion bans.