education
January 2018 is the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case that allowed the right to safe and legal abortion in the United States. The decision has been lauded as the first major victory of the Reproductive Rights Movement and continues to be seen as a turning point in the conversation about abortion access. In the time since the Roe v. Wade decision, medical advancements have made abortion one of the safest medical procedures in the United States (less than one in 100,000 abortions will result in death). However, the fear and stigma surrounding the "dangers" of abortion still persist.
Thus, to shed a light on how safe abortion is, here is a list of common medical procedures that are statistically less safe than abortion.
Despite being a fairly common, similarly invasive medical procedure, colonoscopies are about 40 times more likely to lead to death than an abortion. However, unlike abortion, it is not held to the same level of scrutiny.
When an appendix becomes inflamed or infected, it might become necessary to remove it. However, that removal can become complicated. An infected appendix can rupture during surgery, sending the infection into the bloodstream.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/333270-the-best-foods-to-eat-after-appendix-surgery/
While antibiotics have been incredibly useful in the fight against deadly infection, their overuse is leading to serious problems. Many forms of bacteria are becoming resistant to the very medication we use to keep us well.
https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/index.html
CT Scans have become more popular over the that past 30 years, however, doctors warn that the procedure may be leading to an increase risk of cancer in some patients.
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/01/the-surprising-dangers-of-ct-sans-and-x-rays/index.htm
Many people get their tonsils removed as a child. However, later in life, tonsillectomies can be lead to dangerous complications, including severe pain and infection.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-adults-tonsillectomy/complications-common-for-adults-after-tonsillectomy-idUSBREA391LZ20140410
Wisdom tooth extraction is usually a fairly straightforward procedure. However, common complications can include infection and nerve damage.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/wisdom-tooth-extraction/basics/risks/prc-20020652
The United States boast the worst maternal mortality rate of any developed country. While most nations have seen a steady decline in the number of maternal deaths during child birth, the U.S. has seen a sharp increase since early 2000s. At present, roughly 26 out of every 100,00 mothers will die during childbirth.
https://www.npr.org/2017/05/12/528098789/u-s-has-the-worst-rate-of-maternal-deaths-in-the-developed-world
For more information on abortion or abortion access in the Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Mid-Missouri region, visit the Planned Parenthood Great Plains Website.
