South Middlesex Times

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in 2022 has had far-reaching consequences beyond abortion access, impacting various aspects of reproductive health care in the country. A study conducted by researchers from Rutgers Health and the University of Oklahoma, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, sheds light on the broader implications of the ruling.

Dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health and senior author of the study, Perry N. Halkitis, highlighted the wider impact of the ruling, stating, “This paper provides early rigorous, peer-reviewed evidence showing that the consequences of overturning of Roe v. Wade are not limited to abortion access but influence health care more broadly.” He further emphasized that due to the Dobbs decision, individuals across the nation have been deprived of various non-abortion reproductive health services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and family planning.

The study anticipates the repercussions of the ruling, such as the recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court regarding embryos created through IVF, which classified them as children under state law. Halkitis expressed concerns over the impact on individuals seeking IVF treatments, noting the financial burden and limited availability, particularly affecting LGBTQ+ individuals and single individuals desiring to have children.

Junying “June” Zhao, an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma, highlighted the consequences on Title X-funded programs following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, stating, “Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022 and until February 2023, about 1,000 Title X entities across the nation have lost federal funding.” Zhao emphasized the intricate interplay between federal branches and state legislative actions leading to the loss of funding for vital reproductive health programs.

The loss of Title X funding has had tangible effects in states like Oklahoma, where a longstanding family planning grant was revoked due to state abortion laws. Zhao underscored the broader implications of such funding cuts, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of the issue within the context of the U.S. government's division of powers and federalism structure.

In light of these challenges, Halkitis stressed the importance of ensuring access to reproductive health care for all individuals, especially those who are most vulnerable. The study's findings underscore the critical need to address the multifaceted impacts of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on reproductive care access in the country.