Dear John,

Late last night, after an unprecedented and rushed confirmation process, Judge Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in as Justice Ginsburg’s replacement on the Supreme Court of the United States.

We are collectively pained by what this means—Justice Barrett threatens what makes us, us. Our identities. Our health. Our bodies. Our families. Our communities.

READ: Current Fellow Dr. Nisha Verma of Georgia writes in Rewire why Justice Barrett’s confirmation is devastating for all of us, and what senators must do, now.

Dr. Verma shares what all of our physician advocates know to be true:

“I am afraid of the devastating impact that Barrett’s confirmation is sure to have on the people I care for daily…

“In my time as an ob/gyn, I have learned that no two people or pregnancies are ever the same. There is no one-size-fits-all law that can take every person, family, or medical situation into account. It is therefore important that our laws and policies are backed by medical science and that they allow space for doctors and patients to make the best decisions for each unique situation. People and their families, along with their doctors, deserve the space to make careful, conscious, informed decisions about their health and lives, without the interference of politics or the fear of not being able to pay for medical care.”

From racial justice to immigrant rights to LGBTQ+ rights to health care, we are reeling with Dr. Verma about what Justice Barrett means for all of our lives.

As threats on access to abortion care increase every day, lawmakers must react by working to pass legislation like the Women’s Health Protection Act and the EACH Woman Act.

The hard work, the real work, the critical work – it continues. Thank you for believing in the power of our partnership as physician advocates and allies as we collectively push onwards.

Gratefully,

Kelsey Brill (she/her/hers)
Assistant Director, Voice