Link to the full article here: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/11/15/death-in-ireland-is-wake-up-call-to-fight-bans-on-later-abortion

As the linked article by social worker and reproductive justice advocate Susan Yanow illustrates improving access to reproductive health care and abortion access is a matter or life and death for many women and their families.

“In Ireland, abortion is legal only to save a woman’s life. In the last two years in the United States, nine states have passed laws banning abortion after 20 weeks (in Arizona abortion is banned after 18 weeks) except to save a woman’s life. But as the death of Ms. Halappanavar so poignantly illustrates, “risk to a woman’s life” in emergency situations is extremely difficult to assess.”

If you were a social worker at an Arizona hospital and at a client who needed an abortion at 20 weeks in order to save their lives, would you be able to help them get one? Would you feel supported by your supervisor and co-workers, or would you be afraid for your job and not know where to look for help?

-MR