Natalie M. Gregory, MD, an obstetrician in South Carolina, asked some specific questions that illustrate the difficulties in following the new anti-abortion laws in her state. Via a Facebook post:
I hope that the legislators who drafted and voted for South Carolina’s anti-abortion law will individually respond, both publicly and to the doctor, to provide their answers to the very real questions she has asked. Unfortunately, however, I believe that they will ignore the questions and run from any reporter who conveys one of the questions. Those voting for the bill lack a sense of responsibility; they are interested in making a political statement and they care nothing about the real-world outcomes when their political fantasies are made real.
I imagine that if you pinned down one of the legislators and demanded an answer to these questions. he would say that he cannot answer because he is not a medical doctor and lacks the knowledge and experience to make such vital medical decisions — but of course he did make a vital medical decision when he voted to ban all abortions. – Update: It occurs to me that this is a good example of the Dunning-Kruger effect: legislators so ignorant of medical knowledge that they were supremely confident in making a (universal) medical decision, completely unaware of their ignorance. Requiring them to answer Dr. Gregory’s questions, on the record, might help them realize what they have done.
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