In her final hours, Amber Nicole Thurman battled a severe infection at a hospital near Atlanta, Georgia. She had taken abortion pills and faced a rare complication; her body had not expelled all the fetal tissue. She needed a routine procedure known as dilation and curettage (D&C) to remove the tissue from her uterus. However, a recent Georgia law made performing this procedure a felony, with limited exceptions, threatening doctors with a decade in prison if they violated the law.

Thurman waited in pain, fearing for her 6-year-old son’s future as her infection worsened, blood pressure dropped, and organ failure commenced. Doctors delayed the operation for 20 hours, by which time it was too late. A state committee found her death preventable and cited the hospital’s delay as a significant factor in her fatal outcome. Two women have died due to restricted access to legal abortions and timely medical care, according to ProPublica reports.

Doctors warned legislators of the dangers posed by abortion bans. They expressed concern that laws requiring women to be near death or face irreversible harm would obstruct timely medical interventions. Dr. Melissa Kottke warned that doctors might hesitate, waiting for more severe symptoms before acting. The Georgia Department of Public Health refused to comment on the case due to confidentiality laws.

The availability of D&Cs post-Roe v. Wade saved lives, significantly reducing maternal deaths among women of color. However, over the last two years, 22 states restricted or banned abortion, leading to dangerous delays in necessary medical procedures. Stories of these impacts are central to the upcoming presidential election, with abortion rights on the ballot in 10 states. Despite Georgia having one of the highest maternal mortality rates, legislators rejected efforts to expand health exceptions to the ban.

Georgia’s abortion law, enacted in July 2022, coincided with Thurman’s pregnancy. She sought a surgical abortion in North Carolina but faced delays and chose abortion pills instead. Journeying to the clinic involved significant planning and facing anti-abortion protesters. Although approved by the FDA, complications from abortion pills are rare. Thurman’s symptoms worsened days after taking the medication, but the distance to North Carolina prevented her from accessing a follow-up D&C.

Thurman vomited blood and fainted at home. Her boyfriend called for an ambulance, and she was admitted to Piedmont Henry Hospital with grave symptoms. Despite clear indications of severe sepsis and critical lab results, doctors delayed the D&C. The procedure eventually commenced over 17 hours later, but by then her condition was dire. Surgery revealed significant damage, and Thurman died during the operation.

Thurman’s death illustrates the consequences of unclear abortion laws. Legal exceptions were intended to safeguard lives but provided little guidance. The language mishandled medical realities and hindered providers’ ability to act decisively. Without clear legal protection, doctors hesitated to perform the procedure. Internal hospital policies did not aid in navigating the law.

ProPublica’s investigation found doctors around the country grappling with vague legal language and fearing prosecution. In Tennessee, efforts to provide clarity in the law faced opposition from anti-abortion groups. Doctors hesitate to perform D&Cs due to personal beliefs and legal fears, resulting in standard care being delayed or denied.

Thurman’s family still struggles with unanswered questions. The hospital has not provided her full medical records. For years, her death certificate was their only source of information, listing septic shock and retained products of conception as causes. Her family learned of her preventable death through ProPublica’s reporting. As her son continues to grow, they focus on supporting him, while knowing nothing replaces his mother’s love.