The Landscape of Life Post-Roe v. Wade with The Femtech Lawyer

A major decision was made by the United States Supreme Court on June 24, 2022. One that marks a very significant and historical event that drastically impacts the rights and lives of women. The overturning of Roe v. Wade has caused not only conflict concerning women's rights, but serious changes to the healthcare system and medical research. The Garden State Woman Education Foundation spoke with Bethany Corbin, The Femtech Lawyer, about how the ban of abortion will affect the usage and access of abortion pills, the limitations this decision will have on medical research, and how the ban threatens society overall. Bethany Corbin is The Femtech Lawyer, an attorney whose goal is to revolutionize women's health care. Here is what she shared during our interview.

Besides a women's right to choose, what else is threatened by the abortion ban?

• Corbin started by saying that there are many different things that are threatened by this ban. One right that is threatened, that may not be so obvious, is the right to contraception. She explained that certain contraception may be particularly at risk because of the way they work, which is by preventing implantation of a fertilized egg. This can be problematic because some laws state that life begins at fertilization, and thus these forms of birth control can be challenged by anti-abortion laws. Another right that is potentially threatened, Corbin continued, are fertility treatments or IVF. With IVF, usually multiple embryos are implanted, and some are discarded for the safety of the women and pregnancy. Because anti-abortion laws state that life begins at fertilization or conception, there is now the question of whether or not discarding of an embryo is considered an abortion. Corbin also mentioned the concern of what this ban means for other types of rights that are protected under the right to privacy by the Supreme Court, such as same-sex marriage. 
  

What are the repercussions of banning the abortion pill? If this pill is banned, what will women have to resort to?

• "Abortions are still going to happen, regardless of whether or not they're banned," Corbin stated. For women that live in states where abortions are restricted, one repercussion they will face is having to travel to a different state to receive the medical care they may need. This includes increased costs for travel, health care, and other expenses that would not be an issue if women were able to receive an abortion in their home state. Another consequence is that those who cannot afford such expenses will try to have an abortion using an abortion pill from companies offering them internationally or on the black market. The problem with this, Corbin continued, is that some of these pills have not been approved by the FDA and can be illegal to import. Thus, women may end up resorting to procedures that can be harmful to them or illegal. Corbin added that women might also resort to self-managed abortions, which can be detrimental to their health.
  

What medical research is on the line because of the ban on the pill?

• Corbin explained that a certain type of abortion pill is actually used for medical purposes that are not abortion related. There is research for clinical trials being conducting with this abortion pill. Yet with the ban of the abortion pill, the question of whether or not this research will be able to continue arises. This also leads to another question, which is, what kind of proof would women using these pills need to provide to show that they are using them for non-abortion related purposes? Because these pills are so heavily associated with abortion, they will be given a negative connotation, and so providers and patience will be less willing to participate in clinical trials. 
  

What are some ways do you think we, as a society, can combat these threats?

• Corbin began with saying that the biggest thing we can do is vote. The issue of abortion is no longer protected federally and is now a matter of the states. Right now, congress does not have the votes needed for abortion to have federal protection. Voting and making our opinions heard on federal protection for abortions is crucial. It will have an impact on how states respond to this issue. If, during an election, a state that protects abortion changes parties, there is the possibility of having anti-abortion legislation in that state. Making sure that we are making our political opinions heard through the voting process is imperative.
  

Bethany Corbin is on a mission to revolutionize women's health. To learn more about Corbin, The Femtech Lawyer, visit femtechlawyer.com.