Connecticut could see an influx of patients seeking abortions that are now banned in other states

HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) - As the country continues to react to the monumental supreme court decision to overturn Roe V. Wade, the State of Connecticut could see an influx of patients seeking procedures that are now banned in other states.

In the time since the supreme court announced their decision there have been both celebrations and protests all over the country.

Now a lot of the focus has turned to Connecticut, due to the first-in-the-nation reproductive rights legislation that Governor Ned Lamont signed into law back in May.

The law protects medical providers and patients seeking abortion care in Connecticut, specifically, those who may be traveling from other states that have outlawed abortion.

“Connecticut is probably going to see more women coming from out of state, that will be predominantly women who can either afford to travel to receive abortions or who can get assistance to help them afford the travel. So not all the women who are sort of closed out of abortion access in restrictive states are going to have the option of coming to Connecticut,” said Jilda Aliotta, Associate Professor of Politics, Economics, and International Studies at the University of Hartford.

The law expands abortion access in Connecticut by increasing the types of practitioners who are eligible to perform certain abortion-related care, but this law may also have a ripple effect outside of our state.

“It is going to become much harder for civic leaders and candidates for public office to avoid the issue of abortion,” said Aliotta.

13 states have trigger laws in place which allows them to quickly ban the procedure, including Texas, which has evoked a mixed reaction of support and opposition.

“Each state is going to sort these things out. In Texas, we’re going to protect innocent human life in the womb,” said Bryan Hughes of the Texas State Senate.

“I get pregnant in a situation that’s unsustainable, and I can’t keep the baby but I also have no recourse to get an abortion. That’s my biggest fear,” said Texas resident Maria Luisa Rincon.

Politics and healthcare have always been intertwined. However, with this most recent decision many fear things could get even more contentious.

“At a time of political polarization, what that will do is enhance the political polarization. So its going to be much more difficult, in a place like Connecticut, for someone to be a pro-life democrat or a pro-choice republican,” said Professor Aliotta.

Public health professor, Dr. Deb Risisky, knows all too well how politics impact healthcare.

“Everything we do unfortunately is so political and they’ve politicized it so much that we’re seeing a lot of staff quitting, and there’s going to be a shortage of public health workers as well,” Said Dr. Risisky.

If you’re looking for a way to help, consider your skills.

“It may not even be related to the reproductive health piece, going to reading to kids, helping out at daycares, creating a community garden to make sure that people have healthy access to food,” suggested Dr. Risisky.

The supreme court’s decision also brings into question how this could impact other rulings like access to contraceptives, gay marriage, and invitro fertilization after its been suggested other rulings could be revisited.

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