Alexandru West 
There’s no doubt that abortion bans are impeding medical innovation. But how will these bans impact the lives of women and children? Here are four ways abortion restrictions could slow down innovation in health care. Firstly, abortion bans will prevent providers from discussing the risks of continuing a pregnancy with women who may be undecided about their decision. Second, such regulations may prevent providers from performing an abortion procedure that would benefit both the woman and the child.
If you look at the health system today, it is already stretched thin. Since the Roe decision was handed down in 1973, there were septic wards in hospitals where women with infections had to wait for hours. These facilities were once designated for dying women only, but now more women are seeking the procedure in cities like New York. As a result, hospitals have a shortage of space for dying women and have to use more resources.
Moreover, abortion bans will also inhibit the development of a variety of new technologies for women’s health. One example is the FemTech sector, a field of health care innovation focused on reproductive care. The rise of the FemTech industry has been boosted by startups tackling the problems of pelvic floor and reproductive health. However, the bans on abortion could stifle a variety of innovative technologies that address these needs.
