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INTRODUCTION: After the Dobbs v. Jackson decision in June 2022, 17 U.S. states have functionally banned abortion. Little research has focused on consequences of these bans for obstetrician–gynecologists in affected states, for whom medically necessary care provision may now carry serious personal and professional consequences. The objective of the Study of Ob-Gyns in Post-Roe America (SOPRA) was to characterize how abortion bans affect obstetrician–gynecologists and identify institution-level practices to support obstetrician–gynecologists in abortion-restrictive policy climates. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional qualitative study of 54 obstetrician–gynecologists from 13 of 14 states that had banned abortion as of March 2023. Data included semistructured interviews conducted from March to August 2023, which were thematically coded and analyzed. Institutional review board approval was obtained. RESULTS: We identified three major domains in which laws affected obstetrician–gynecologists: 1) clinical effects (waiting to provide necessary care until patients became sicker or institutional permission to treat was obtained; inability to counsel on pregnancy options; inability to provide or refer for appropriate care; patient relationships); 2) professional effects (conflicts with colleagues; documentation; fears and perceived consequences of law violation; practicing below the standard of care; moral distress and moral injury; job satisfaction; intention to leave the state); and 3) personal effects (health and well-being). Institutional practices—both helpful and harmful—modified the laws' effects on physicians. CONCLUSION: Findings reveal pervasive effects of state abortion bans on obstetrician–gynecologists, with implications for workforce sustainability, physician health, and patient outcomes. Institutional practices to support and protect obstetrician–gynecologists in restrictive policy environments may help mitigate laws’ effects on attrition and physician well-being.
Arora et al. (Wed,) studied this question.