2025/02/06 by Broaddus, Emily, Buchbinder, Mara, Lyerly, Anne
#United States #abortion #abortion restrictions #medical students #qualitative research
paper · doi:10.26153/tsw/58405
On September 1, 2021, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 8 (SB8), prohibiting abortions after six weeks gestation and allowing private citizens to file lawsuits against anyone who either performs or “aids and abets” an abortion after this point. To understand the broad impacts of SB8 on Texas medical students' experiences and career plans, we conducted a pilot study with 7 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with medical students after SB8 went into effect. Participants reported negative attitudes towards the law and limited opportunities for didactic and clinical exposure to abortion care. Participants noted conflicts between competing desires for comprehensive training and a commitment to serve their Texas community. Most discussed leaving Texas. Restrictive abortion laws impact medical students’ decisions about training location, access to comprehensive medical education, and contribute to stress and associated burnout. Better understanding the impact of such laws on medical students is critical to support their medical training experience and for the future of reproductive health care access across the U.S.