When, in May 2024, Florida Congresswoman Kat Cammack—one of the most influential Republicans in Congress and co-chair of the House’s pro-life caucus—suffered a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, Rep. This reality highlights the inconsistencies and complexities surrounding Florida’s recently enacted six-week abortion ban. The incident has raised questions about what the law means for medical professionals and patients, both in Texas and across the U.S.
Cammack was five weeks pregnant when she went into the emergency room. There, doctors told her that they were unable to find a heartbeat. Medical personnel quickly determined that her life was endangered due to the ectopic pregnancy. They leaped into action, with real-time, urgent intervention needed. Doctors advised a single dose of methotrexate to help her body expel the pregnancy. They held back, fearing legal retaliation under the abortion bans that had just been put into effect.
Florida’s six-week abortion ban went into effect on May 1, 2024. It bans abortions at six weeks of pregnancy, often before most people even know they’re pregnant. Cammack’s experience is a perfect example of the law’s unintended consequences. Medical personnel fear they could lose their medical licenses and/or be criminally charged for providing the treatment if they go ahead.
Cammack as she scrambled to look up state law on her phone to figure out what was legal and what wasn’t. Afterwards, she contacted her governor’s office and got their help. She would go on to lambast the climate of fear that engulfed implementation of the law. She attributed part of the hold-ups in her care to what she referred to as “absolute fearmongering at its worst.”
To be clear, Cammack is very much opposed to abortion. Her experience has motivated her to fight for more nuanced accounts of medical emergencies in the eyes of the law. She wanted her experience to bring together divided political parties around the world. She just needed them to meet somewhere in the middle on the healthcare front.
Cammack’s case exemplifies a major fear of healthcare makers. They are worried that strict abortion laws make it more difficult for them to deliver appropriate care in a timely manner. Alison Haddock, a healthcare professional, remarked, “Well, thank God we have abortion services,” highlighting the essential role these services play in certain medical situations.
As she prepares for the arrival of a new pregnancy, Cammack reflects on how the ectopic pregnancy incident continues to influence her perspective. Currently expecting another child, she advocates for legislative adjustments that ensure safety and clarity for both patients and medical providers.