The family of a woman who tragically died due to complications arising from the denial of an abortion in Georgia in 2022 has announced plans to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Amber Thurman, a 28-year-old woman, faced delays in receiving necessary abortion care under Georgia’s stringent laws, leading to a fatal outcome. After taking abortion medication, Thurman encountered a rare complication where fetal tissue remained in her body, necessitating a routine procedure to remove it. However, doctors delayed the operation for 20 hours due to the state’s strict abortion laws.
Georgia implemented a law banning most abortions after approximately six weeks of pregnancy shortly after the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade. A state committee later found Thurman’s death to be preventable, emphasizing that the hospital’s delay in performing the necessary procedure significantly contributed to her passing.
At a press conference, Ben Crump, the family’s lawyer, highlighted how both federal and state laws played a role in Thurman’s tragic death. He mentioned the federal law EMTALA, which mandates hospitals to provide emergency treatment to patients, and argued that Thurman should have been saved under Georgia’s abortion law exceptions for medical emergencies or non-viable fetuses.
Although a judge recently struck down Georgia’s six-week abortion ban, it came too late to save Thurman. Her family expressed their devastation and determination to seek justice for Amber. Thurman’s mother, Shanette Williams, shared the heartache of losing her daughter and emphasized the preventable nature of the tragedy. Crump vowed to pursue a medical malpractice claim on behalf of Thurman’s family, highlighting the negligence displayed by the medical professionals involved.
The family’s pursuit of justice serves as a crucial reminder of the dangers imposed by state-level abortion bans following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The impact of such restrictive measures on individuals seeking essential reproductive healthcare cannot be overstated. The tragedy surrounding Amber Thurman’s death underscores the urgent need to address and rectify the harmful consequences of restrictive abortion laws, ensuring that no family has to endure a similar loss due to preventable circumstances.