Caitlin Draper of Fayetteville, Arkansas, is running for state Congress. Tragically, she said last week that she is in the process of a miscarriage and may be experiencing an ectopic pregnancy.
After four years of in vitro fertilization attempts, Draper said she has learned that her pregnancy is ‘not viable.’ She said she went to a routine prenatal checkup on April 4 at five and a half weeks pregnant, but her blood tests showed nonviable human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels. Her doctor had her return for further testing on the same day and mentioned that she could be experiencing a dangerous ectopic pregnancy, which is when the embryo implants outside of the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube.
But what is most confusing about Draper’s remarks is her claim that she asked her nurse if she’d be able to have an abortion if she needed one… and allegedly, the nurse said she didn’t know, but would ask the doctor. The doctor’s response was, according to Draper, “I think so. I think you’re gonna be okay.”
But it is important for us to repeat — and for all women to know — that treatment for an ectopic pregnancy isn’t considered an abortion, and is legal in every state. In addition, the removal of a deceased, miscarried child by surgical means is also legal in every state.
Draper reportedly asked, “Do I need to go hang out in Kansas or Illinois?” adding, “I don’t know if it’s an ectopic pregnancy or not,” Draper said. “I can leave the state if I have to, but what about the women who can’t?” She said if she did not miscarry by Friday, she would have to return to the doctor to determine how to proceed.
“I can’t grapple that my life is at risk because of extremism. Politicians do not need to be practicing medicine. Would you want politicians treating one of your loved ones for cancer?” But there is no law putting Draper’s life at risk.
In a video, she said she is running for office in part because of her failed efforts to get pregnant and claimed that it is “pro-life” of her to be trying to have a baby.
How pro-life is that? I am in this race to fight for pregnant people and women everywhere. We need your vote in November to fight for those that are struggling to receive the healthcare they desperately need. My name is Caitlin and I am running to be your next congressperson. pic.twitter.com/eWfn1SPsTx
— Caitlin Draper (@caitlinforark) April 10, 2024
Arkansas protects the majority of preborn children from abortion except in cases where the woman’s life is at risk (though induced abortion — the direct and intentional killing of a preborn child — is not medically necessary.) As previously stated, under the law, neither treatment for an ectopic pregnancy nor treatment for a miscarriage are considered abortions. This means Draper would be able to get the care she needed — and that care is not an induced abortion.
If, indeed, there are medical professionals so ignorant of the law that they don’t understand that ectopic pregnancy treatment and treatment for a miscarriage have never been considered an abortion, then there is a problem — but it isn’t with the law.
Ultimately, it is false to claim that miscarriage treatment and treatment for an ectopic pregnancy might be prohibited in any pro-life state.
