A prominent anti-abortion activist in the US has been selected to join a Texas health committee responsible for reviewing maternal deaths, a move causing concern among advocates for reproductive justice. They argue that Texas’ strict abortion laws endanger pregnant women’s lives and fear this appointment could hinder the committee’s ability to impartially assess the impact of these laws on pregnancy-related deaths.
Dr. Ingrid Skop, an OB-GYN from San Antonio, has a history of vocal anti-abortion advocacy. She serves as vice-president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute and has been involved in legal efforts to restrict abortion drug approvals.
Skop has supported Texas’ abortion bans and argued against emergency abortions for pregnant women with life-threatening complications.
Critics question Skop’s appointment, pointing out her strong ideological stance against abortion and its potential impact on unbiased maternal mortality reviews.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists expressed concerns about her bias and its potential to compromise data analysis related to maternal health.
The Texas maternal mortality and review committee, tasked with investigating pregnancy-related deaths, aims to analyze the effects of state abortion laws on maternal health in the future.
This move comes as maternal mortality rates in Texas remain among the highest in the US, with advocates pushing for unbiased assessments to improve maternal care.
Nakeenya Wilson, a previous committee member and advocate for community representation, voiced concerns over the removal of her role and the implications of Skop’s appointment for the representation of marginalized communities.
Skop, is scheduled to start her six-year term on June 1, 2024.
