Nov 25, 2024, 12:00 AM
Nov 25, 2024, 12:00 AM

Texas woman dies due to inadequate miscarriage care

Highlights
  • Porsha Ngumezi, 35, died in June 2023 after a miscarriage in Texas.
  • Doctors at the hospital opted to use misoprostol instead of recommending a D&C procedure due to fears of violating abortion laws.
  • Ngumezi's death reflects a severe impact of abortion bans on medical practices and women's health in Texas.
Story

In June 2023, Porsha Ngumezi, a 35-year-old woman and mother of two, died after experiencing a miscarriage while receiving treatment at Houston Methodist Sugar Land in Texas. This incident emerged as part of a troubling pattern following the fall of Roe v. Wade, which has led to nearly all abortions being banned in Texas. Ngumezi began to bleed heavily and underwent multiple blood transfusions. Instead of being offered a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure, which is standard for miscarriages, she was administered misoprostol. The hesitancy of doctors in abortion-restrictive states to perform D&Cs stems from fears of legal repercussions, even in situations where the pregnancy has already ended. As her condition worsened, she experienced chest pain and struggled to breathe before dying, highlighting severe gaps in medical care that have reportedly led to other similar fatalities since the onset of strict abortion laws in Texas.

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