GW Public Health Experts Available to Comment on Roe v. Wade Decision

WASHINGTON (June 24, 2022)—The Supreme Court today overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortions that was established nearly 50 years ago. States are now free to restrict access or ban abortions outright. The George Washington University has a number of public health experts available to comment on the decision. For interviews, please contact Kathy Fackelmann, kfackelmann@gwu.edu or GW Media, gwmedia@gwu.edu

Lynn Goldman, dean of the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health, can discuss the public health implications of the Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade. She and other public health leaders submitted an amicus brief in the case.  “The public health consequences of this ruling will be catastrophic. Far from protecting life, abortion bans put the health and lives of women and children at risk.”

Sara Rosenbaum, the Harold and Jane Hirsh professor of health law and policy, can discuss the legal and public health aspects of Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Clinic, The Supreme Court decision that overturns Roe v. Wade.. “This Supreme Court ruling strips people of a fundamental right – an unprecedented step in the history of American law, Furthermore, its public health implications are simply incalculable.“

Susan F. Wood, Director of the GW Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health, is an expert on the public health consequences of restricting access to abortion, medication abortions, including FDA regulations, and general questions about reproductive care and women’s health. “This ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade means many women in the US will not have access to either procedural or medication abortions,” Wood said. “The lack of access to such critical reproductive healthcare would lead to an increased risk of maternal injury and death and many other adverse health outcomes, particularly to those most vulnerable.”

Amita Vyas, Director of the GW Maternal and Child Health Center, can talk about the health consequences of overturning Roe v. Wade. She can also discuss how women, especially young women and those from vulnerable groups will face the most serious consequences of such a ruling.

Julia Strasser, a senior research scientist at the GW Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity, is an expert on the reproductive health workforce. “The Supreme Court ruling will make it harder for clinicians to offer abortions or related care even when it could save lives,” Strasser said. “This ruling will damage the workforce trained to provide abortions and to treat miscarriage; and, as the workforce shrinks, access to safe and effective pregnancy care will suffer.”