Last Thursday, at a town hall in Jonesborough, Tennessee, a 35-year-old woman shared her story: she was denied prenatal care by her physician because they objected to the fact that she wasn’t married, nor did she plan to be. She’d been with her partner for 15 years and they have a 13-year-old child.
While going through her medical history, the physician told her that because she was unwed, they didn’t feel comfortable treating her, because it went against their values and she should seek care elsewhere. At the time of the appointment, the woman believed she was about four weeks into her pregnancy.
Now, she’s traveling out of state to Virginia to receive prenatal care.
This is the first reported case of a woman being denied prenatal care for being unmarried in the state of Tennessee.
On April 24th, Tennessee’s 2025 Medical Ethics Defense Act went into effect. It gives physicians, hospital systems and insurers, among others, the legal right to deny healthcare to patients based on religious, moral or ethical beliefs. There are no protections for people in rural areas with limited options. There’s no requirement to refer patients elsewhere. And there’s no legal recourse. The woman at the town hall explained that her representatives are not responsive to her questions, even as she repeatedly calls Sen. Marsha Blackburn. When she reached staff at Sen. Bill Hagerty’s office, they told her, “he’s not obligated to listen to his constituents.”
This Guy Is Not Obligated To Listen To His Constituents
there’s a lot going on here, but that really has to be the cherry on top. I mean, fuck, you can just come out and say that about your boss? The senator??? Why not fguckin change the “DoD” back to “Department of War” while your at it
These people claim to be Christian and they don’t even know the fucking Christmas story.
I think its so wrote, they don’t even think about it.
Like, your not supposed to actually think about Mary as an actual a pregnant woman who was forced out into a barn. She’s supposed to be the statue behind the little makeshift bassinet and nothing more.
Theocrats and fascists are some of the biggest hypocrites on the planet.
Well, what more can one expect from a pro-colonial pro-slavery religion?
I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.
I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.
If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.
The physician’s job should be replaced with someone who is comfortable fulfilling the oath they took when becoming an MD. If they can’t honor the oath then they shouldn’t practice medicine.
fucking hell
sorry but christians should not be allowed to have jobs that meaningfully impact the lives of others unless they can pass a test proving they’re normal
Yeah like if you have this belief you should’ve been screened out before med school
Last Spring, House bill sponsor Rep. Bryan Terry (R–Murfreesboro) claimed the law would help Tennessee recruit and retain physicians, according to Nashville Scene. That’s false. The state has seen a decline in OB-GYNs since Tennessee’s total abortion ban went into effect. Tennessee has the highest maternal mortality rate in the country and ranks among the worst for infant mortality. Combine that with the refusal to expand Medicaid and the lack of rural maternity care, and it’s no surprise Tennessee was named the worst state in the nation to live in, by a recent CNBC study.
the juxtaposition of this and “Nashville” aka Cashville, Music City, New Hollywood is incredible.
Tennessee has no state income tax, so it is a rich people paradise and the breaks they give out to labels/studios are insane.
Tennessee is giving Texas a run for its money in being the most representative, miniaturized version of America.
FedEx, AutoZone, Bridgestone, Nissan North America, Caterpillar Financial Services, Tractor Supply and many, many others: all HQ’d in Tennessee.
the capitalists have a tight grip on that state, and they are squeezing the Christ out of it to dislocate all fragments of the working class to the geographies where they want them to be.
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