Idaho's strict anti-abortion laws have resulted in a substantial decrease in the number of practicing OBGYNs, with a loss of 35% since August 2022. This situation has raised alarms within medical communities, as leadership from the Idaho Medical Association highlights the negative impacts on physician recruitment and retention. The legal environment surrounding abortion in Idaho complicates medical practices, with severe consequences for non-compliance. Although some allowances exist for certain medical scenarios, the lack of clarity poses challenges for healthcare professionals.
Idaho lost 94 of its 268 (or 35%) practicing OBGYNs between August 2022 and December 2024, due to the state's near-total abortion ban.
"This study clearly shows how our legal environment is causing physicians to leave the state and making it more difficult to recruit new ones to take their place," CEO Susie Keller announced.
The state's ban even made it to the Supreme Court in June 2024, after the Biden administration sued claiming Idaho defied EMTALA guidance.
Physicians are allowed to perform the procedure in cases of reported rape or incest, ectopic pregnancies, or to save the mother's life.
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