Speculative fiction has a long history of taking the issues of the day and reframing them in a new context with the hope that people will look at them in a new way. Our "unprecedented" times are bringing all sorts of old ways and old thinking back to the forefront. On Tuesdays, I present "what if?" questions. Previously, the intent was as an idea generator. It still is. But now, I ask that you really think about all the repercussions that these ideas will have. If only these were just thought exercises.
What if you were dying and the only treatment that could save your life was illegal?
The treatment for an ectopic pregnancy is abortion.
— Elizabeth (@elizabethlgr) May 3, 2022
The treatment for a septic uterus is abortion.
The treatment for a miscarriage that your body won’t release is abortion.
If you can’t get those abortions, you die.
You. Die.
"We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." ~Elie Wiesel
You pretty much summed it up.
ReplyDeleteThat tweet helped me frame what I wanted to say.
DeleteThank you. "They" just don't care to research what they're really enacting. Or, they just don't care, period. Makes me wonder what they'll do with/to women with IUDs. Force them to remove them? How?
ReplyDeleteIt's not that they don't care. They're looking for control. It's about power over others.
DeleteI am pro choice, but sadly, these reasons are a small percentage of the reasons woman get an abortion.
ReplyDeleteThat was a tweet. She had limited characters to make her point.
DeleteA friend from long ago (now deceased) nearly died from an ectopic pregnancy. It isn't just these life threatening conditions you list. Women may have things go wrong with a wanted pregnancy and may not seek medical attention if they fear they will be prosecuted if they are miscarrying.
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing is a mess. And we were warned. But too many people don't realize that "they" are coming for us all.
DeleteI'd get it anyway.
ReplyDeleteOh I would get them, stupid laws be dammed.
ReplyDeleteBut if it's illegal, who are you going to get to treat you?
DeleteI would find a way or it would just be me
DeleteThere is the ups and downs in something like that....go with someone that does that procedure illegally or die. Chances are with my luck, I would prob die during the illegal procedure so I guess I would just let go and go.....
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point. I did not specify whether you would survive or not...
DeleteI'd get the treatment of course. Survival is the name of the game. At that point, illegal or not, I'd be getting it. Three squares and health care in jail, no electric or water bills, so......bring it on!
ReplyDeleteThe question is: would any of the doctors be willing to perform the treatment?
DeleteMost laws have clauses of exemption.
ReplyDeleteAbortion is a very divisive issue in the US. And recently it has come back to the national centre stage.
I am not quite aware of the exemption clauses, it at all there are.
Coming to your question, I would choose the illegal path to stay alive. Maybe that would mean in a prison.
It's not that black and white though. Many states would have limitations, but they'd also have concessions and exceptions, such as when the mother's life is in danger.
ReplyDeleteMore and more states are showing that they will enact laws that do NOT have exceptions of any kind. Your state already has some pretty scary restrictions on women seeking abortions. State mandated counseling beforehand, a required ultrasound? Pretty much what I would call a plainly black and white issue.
DeleteGack! I forgot I have to sign in to not be Anonymous!
DeleteThese are emergencies that need to be treated pronto, so if I’m at a medical facility that prefers to kowtow to authoritarian laws than care to save patients then good-bye to me.
ReplyDelete