Louisiana woman says she was denied an abortion after fetus developed rare condition: “I was carrying my baby to bury my baby”

A woman whose fetus developed a rare, virtually at all times deadly situation has been thrust into the nationwide highlight after she mentioned she was denied an abortion in Louisiana. Her ordeal comes because the combat over abortion rights continues on the state degree, with some states making it virtually inconceivable to entry the process. 

Nancy Davis has three kids, and deliberate for yet one more. But she mentioned her happiness turned to heartbreak earlier this month when her fetus was identified with acrania, a rare situation during which the cranium would not develop. 

The prognosis is grim: most who’ve acrania are both stillborn or die quickly after. Doctors suggested Davis to terminate her being pregnant — however a hospital in Baton Rouge denied her request to have an abortion there. 

“I was very heartbroken,” Davis instructed CBS News. “And the only thing I could replay in my head was, I was carrying my baby to bury my baby.” 

Her lawyer, Ben Crump, pointed to Davis’ case as an instance of Louisiana’s imprecise and ambiguous legal guidelines that dictate which abortions are allowed. He known as on state legislatures to declare a particular session to clear up the confusion. 

“Ms. Davis was among the first women to be caught in the crosshairs of confusion due to Louisiana’s rush to restrict abortion. But she will hardly be the last,” he mentioned. 

Louisiana is considered one of 11 states with the nation’s hardest legal guidelines, banning virtually all cases of abortion with few or no exceptions. All of the states that encompass it have related restrictions — which means individuals should determine between touring far or carrying a non-viable fetus to time period. 

“These last few weeks have been very traumatizing,” she mentioned. “Um, it’s been very, you know, emotional.” 

The Louisiana Department of Health mentioned its tips are evolving and that it plans to add acrania to its listing of situations that may enable somebody to have an abortion — however that will come too late for Davis. She instructed CBS News she plans to journey subsequent week to search the process in one other state.