At 6:58 a.m. Thursday, Dr. Angela Adams Powell addressed the nurses at the south Alabama hospital where she had delivered babies for more than 25 years.

“I was afraid I might not be able to speak,” she said, her voice breaking, “and I might not.”

In two minutes, the labor and delivery department at Monroe County Hospital would shutter, leaving the community without a birthing hospital. In two minutes, pregnant women in a county where 22% of residents live below the poverty line would be forced to travel 35 to 103 miles for the next nearest option.

Liz Kirby, Monroe County Hospital’s CEO, said a physician shortage was behind the closing. After the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, some hospitals in states with strict abortion bans have warned that it could become harder to recruit OB-GYNs, though Kirby said she wasn’t aware of that as a factor in this case. Residency applications for the specialty have also dropped more in states with abortion bans than nationally.

Alabama is in the throes of a maternal and infant health crisis, with some of the highest rates of infant and maternal mortality in the country. Physicians say those losses should be answered with more access to care — not less.

  • NatakuNox@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    That’s a part of it. But ensuring a poor, unhealthy, uneducated, and subservient population is the main goal. Moral codes are just a shield to hide behind as those making these rules are the most corrupt and immoral people in the world. They know emancipation of the working people is the end of suffering and the end of their (white wealthy men) control.

    • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Yeah abortion was considered a weird Catholic issue in Christianity until the religious right was looking for a new bogeyman after their opposition to desegregating private schools became a losing issue.

    • SoupBrick@yiffit.net
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      1 year ago

      I have doubts the actual seated Republicans have the brains to have that as a goal. I can believe those politicians have fanatic beliefs and the ends justify the means ideology. I am of the opinion that the think tanks, who they get their talking points and directions from, are pursuing the goals you stated in order to keep power.

      • NatakuNox@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Oh you think Republicans created this plan. Nope their wealthy donors are the ones coming up with all this.