Dear John,

This morning, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case. This decision overturns the legal precedent set by Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

Today’s decision is devastating for Mississippi and for communities across the country. This decision allows the evisceration of abortion access in 26 states, more than half of our country. The stories, experiences, and critical perspectives of people who have abortions and those who provide that essential care were ignored. The opinion will have dire consequences wreaking havoc for the health and wellbeing of our communities.

To say I am surprised would be disingenuous. Politicians and the courts have been intentionally attacking abortion care for years, all a part of an anti-abortion extremist agenda to coerce, control, and shame people for accessing the health care they need. These decisions are never about safety or the protection of “life” as they claim. In fact, the ultimate goal of abortion restrictions is to strip us of our bodily autonomy and human rights while simultaneously punishing, surveilling, and criminalizing those who attempt to exercise these rights.

The real world impacts of these bans are devastating. People are forced to either leave their communities to seek care or forced to remain pregnant and give birth. Health care providers who have made an oath to do no harm are threatened by the government to deny patients the compassionate care they need. If people are able to provide or receive abortion care, they’re met with stigma, shame, harassment, and violence. All of these harms have long term, generational consequences for our families, friends, and neighbors.

So, I am not surprised but I am deeply concerned. This moment is one our community of physicians worked to never be affronted with. But I also know that our communities are resilient. Patients, providers, and advocates alike are going to do everything in our power to show up for each other, keep each other safe, and access the care needed. While our systems are failing us, we as communities will continue to work to ensure we get the care we need and deserve.

This is going to be a time filled with fear and pain. But we can, we must, harness that energy to rebuild and forge ahead to something better, a future where we all get to be free.

Sincerely,

Jamila Perritt, MD MPH FACOG (she/her/hers)
President & CEO

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Physicians for Reproductive Health
PO Box 35
Hartsdale, NY 10530
United States
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