Amber Nicole Thurman, a 28-year-old medical assistant from the outskirts of Atlanta, passed away tragically when the hospital postponed a life-saving procedure because of Georgia’s strict abortion laws. Thurman faced an uncommon complication after taking abortion pills, in which not all fetal tissue was removed from her body. She came to Piedmont Henry Hospital, requiring a standard procedure known as dilation and curettage (D&C) to clear her uterus and prevent a dangerous infection.
Nonetheless, a recent Georgia legislation passed during that summer could potentially classify the performance of a D&C as a felony in situations related to abortion, with certain exceptions. If doctors violate the law, they could face prosecution and up to 10 years in prison. This legal risk led to a fatal delay in Thurman’s treatment.
Thurman endured 20 hours of intense pain, with her infection worsening, while doctors hesitated to conduct the necessary procedure. Her condition deteriorated rapidly—her blood pressure dropped, her organs began to fail, and the infection spread. When the medical team finally decided to perform the operation, it was too late. Amber Nicole Thurman, who had aspirations of attending nursing school, tragically lost her life.
A group of medical experts, responsible for reviewing pregnancy-related deaths, recently determined that Thurman’s death was “preventable.” They found that the delay in performing the D&C had a significant impact on her fatal outcome. Despite the hospital being fully capable of treating her condition, legal restrictions associated with the abortion ban led to unnecessary hesitation.
While detailed patient case reviews are usually kept private, ProPublica uncovered reports confirming that at least two women in Georgia have died because they were unable to access legal abortions and timely medical care.
