A doctor’s inability to provide life-saving care resulted in the tragic death of a Texas mother, making her the third woman to lose her life due to the state’s abortion ban.
In June 2023, Porsha Ngumezi, a 35-year-old woman, experienced a devastating miscarriage at only 11 weeks into her pregnancy. The tragic event resulted in a significant loss of blood, causing great concern for Ngumezi’s well-being. Nurse’s notes, obtained by ProPublica, revealed that Ngumezi had been passing large clots resembling grapefruits, adding to the distressing nature of her situation.
Hope Ngumezi, Porsha’s husband, was advised by his mother, a former physician, that a D&C was necessary. A Dilation and Curettage, commonly known as a D&C, is a standard medical procedure performed to remove any remaining tissue from the uterus. This procedure enables the uterus to heal and cease bleeding, effectively addressing first-trimester miscarriages and abortions.
The obstetrician on duty, Dr. Andrew Ryan Davis, administered misoprostol to Porsha. This drug was given to help her body pass the tissue independently, in accordance with the hospital’s policy, rather than providing life-saving care.
Porsha sadly succumbed to her injuries despite the administration of drugs that were intended to halt the bleeding.
Porsha’s tragic death could have been avoided through a straightforward medical procedure. However, due to its association with first-trimester abortions, this procedure has become entangled in state abortion laws. In Texas, for instance, doctors who violate this legislation can face a prison sentence of up to 99 years.
Porsha’s tragic death marks the fifth preventable loss of life resulting from inadequate access to necessary medical procedures. Specifically, the first trimester D&C and second trimester dilation and evacuation are the procedures that were lacking. Disturbingly, three out of the five deaths occurred in the state of Texas, as reported by ProPublica.
Doctors are now opting to prescribe misoprostol to patients instead of performing D&Cs. This medication is commonly used to induce labor and manage postpartum hemorrhage, which makes it less directly associated with abortion. It’s important to note that misoprostol is not recommended for treating unstable patients.
“Many doctors in Texas have noticed that there is a greater stigma and fear associated with the procedure known as dilation and curettage (D&C), compared to the use of misoprostol,” explained Dr. Alison Goulding, an OB-GYN based in Houston. She further added, “In Texas, there is a prevailing assumption among doctors that D&C is no longer considered a standard practice, even in situations where it would be the recommended course of action. This fear stems from the fact that people often associate D&C with abortion, which is still a contentious and legally restricted topic.”
“We abide by all state laws at Houston Methodist hospitals,” stated a Houston Methodist spokesperson, “including the abortion law in effect in Texas.”
