The Ethics of Abortion Care Advocacy — Making Exceptions to the Rule

This perspective examines the ethical dilemmas faced by clinicians advocating against abortion bans, focusing on North Carolina’s Senate Bill 20 (SB20), which restricts abortion access after 12 weeks. The authors argue that participating in crafting "exception lists" for such bans undermines patient autonomy, beneficence, and justice, as these laws disproportionately harm marginalized groups and contradict evidence based medical guidelines. Despite efforts to educate legislators, clinicians’ expertise was often disregarded, leading to harmful policies. The article underscores the moral imperative to reject compromise on abortion restrictions and advocates for unwavering support of comprehensive reproductive healthcare.

This perspective examines the ethical dilemmas faced by clinicians advocating against abortion bans, focusing on North Carolina’s Senate Bill 20 (SB20), which restricts abortion access after 12 weeks. The authors argue that participating in crafting "exception lists" for such bans undermines patient autonomy, beneficence, and justice, as these laws disproportionately harm marginalized groups and contradict evidence based medical guidelines. Despite efforts to educate legislators, clinicians’ expertise was often disregarded, leading to harmful policies. The article underscores the moral imperative to reject compromise on abortion restrictions and advocates for unwavering support of comprehensive reproductive healthcare.