Arizona Could See 14% Increase In Maternal Deaths As Consequence of Abortion Bans

For Immediate Release
Friday, Oct. 28th, 2022

Contact: Josselyn Berry, Jberry@azdem.org

 

Arizona Could See 14% Increase In Maternal Deaths As Consequence of Abortion Bans

PHOENIX–A new study out, titled “The maternal mortality consequences of losing abortion access,” estimates Arizona will see a 14% increase in maternal deaths resulting from a total abortion ban. The estimate, which is the 5th highest such increase in the nation, is based on the greater risk of death for women from carrying a pregnancy to term compared to having an abortion.

 

Kari Lake, who has a long and well documented history of supporting the most extreme abortion bans, does not support exceptions for rape or incest, or the life of the mother.  She’s said, “I am pro-life 100%. I’m against abortion” and during an interview last Sunday, when Mike Broomhead asked whether Lake would sign legislation allowing exceptions in cases of incest or rape, Lake lied saying, “I believe the 15-week bill does have that.”  Arizona’s 15-week ban on abortion does not have exceptions for rape or incest. 

 

“More women in Arizona are at risk of dying as a direct result of our extreme abortion bans that Kari Lake has made clear she supports and will enforce. Lake doesn’t think twice about calling women who have abortions liars, ghouls, murderers or executioners — just for making health care decisions about their own bodies, “said Josselyn Berry, spokesperson for the Arizona Democratic Party. “If Lake becomes governor, she will absolutely support and enforce abortions bans, endangering the lives of Arizonans. Meanwhile her opponent Katie Hobbs has been and always will be a staunch supporter of reproductive freedom.”  

 

Kari Lake’s Real Stances on Abortion: As the Arizona Republic reported, “Lake has not budged from her staunch opposition to abortion,” despite a majority of Arizonans supporting access to abortion and it becoming a top issue in this election. She responded to the SCOTUS decision overturning Roe by saying she supports the 1901 Arizona law  criminalizing abortion without exceptions for rape and incest, and celebrated it again as a “great law” during a forum in February. In a July Republican primary debate, Lake unequivocally stated her support for Arizona’s Civil War era abortion ban that effectively outlaws abortion and requires prison time for doctors, saying she would support and enforce it. And shortly after becoming the GOP nominee for governor, Lake dodged a question from a reporter asking if she would advocate for “more restrictive abortion laws.”

She’s said “I am pro-life 100%. I’m against abortion,” opposing exceptions for rape and incest and the life of the woman. When asked if she supported exceptions for rape and incest, Lake said, “I don’t believe that any child should be killed in a mother’s womb” and that “abortion is the ultimate sin.” In a June interview on Fox News and in the GOP primary debate, Lake also said she supports banning abortion pills.

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