Originally published at National Catholic Register
Findings have led to significant media coverage, with pro-abortion supporters citing the data as evidence that abortion bans are harmful not just allegedly to women but to children as well.
Pro-life laws are not driving a surge in infant mortality, a prominent OB-GYN and pro-life advocate said this week.
Rather, some infants with genetic or congenital abnormalities who might otherwise have been aborted are now being born and passing away, said Dr. Ingrid Skop, an obstetrician and the vice president and director of medical affairs at the Charlotte Lozier Institute.
Several studies published since Roe was repealed in June 2022 claim to have found a link between restrictive abortion policies and higher infant death rates. One study, published in January of this year, alleged that “U.S. states with the most restrictive abortion laws saw 16% more infant deaths” from 2014–2018, before Roe’s repeal.
Another study published this week reached similar conclusions for infant mortality rates post-repeal, finding that “infant mortality was higher than expected, overall and among those with congenital anomalies, for several months after the Dobbs decision.”
Those findings have led to significant media coverage, with pro-abortion supporters citing the data as evidence that abortion bans are harmful
