Republican Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri has introduced the Life at Conception Act, intended as a federal abortion ban. This bill would redefine personhood under the 14th Amendment, asserting that life begins at conception and allowing unborn children legal rights. However, critics warn that such legislation jeopardizes maternal health, complicates medical responses in emergencies, and adversely affects medical care availability, particularly for obstetrics. Consequently, states with abortion restrictions are seeing declines in medical student residency applications and experienced OB/GYNs leaving these areas, indicating systemic impacts on women's healthcare in those regions.
I am proud to introduce the Life at Conception Act, which reaffirms the original intent of the 14th Amendment by declaring that the term 'person' includes all human beings from the moment of conception . . . It is a scientific fact that life begins at conception.
Abortion bans have been linked with delays in medical treatment for women who are miscarrying, deaths in cases of risky pregnancies, as well as the increased criminalization of pregnant women.
Even in cases where a mother's life is not at stake, abortion bans can impact the quality of medical care-for both women and the communities they live in.
According to a 2023 study, states with abortion bans are seeing fewer applications from medical students for residency programs, particularly OB/GYN residency programs.
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