Republican Congresswoman Kat Cammack, a prominent anti-abortion advocate and co-chair of the House Pro-Life Caucus, recently revealed her harrowing experience with a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy last year. Her emergency highlighted the uncertainty surrounding Florida’s six-week abortion ban, which came into effect on May 1, 2024.
Though Florida law permits abortions when the pregnant person’s life is at risk, legal ambiguity delayed Cammack’s treatment. Hospital staff hesitated to administer methotrexate, a drug commonly used to treat ectopic pregnancies, fearing potential legal repercussions. Cammack had to research Florida’s legal code herself and even tried contacting the governor’s office before receiving care.
The ectopic pregnancy, where a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus—typically in a fallopian tube—is nonviable and dangerous, often leading to internal bleeding if untreated. It requires urgent medical attention, either via medication or surgery, and is not categorized as an abortion, as there is no potential for live birth.
Cammack blames “fearmongering” from abortion rights groups for creating anxiety among healthcare workers, but admits her case could be interpreted as proof that stringent abortion laws may endanger patients. She acknowledged that many might say, “Thank God we have abortion services,” though she maintains her situation wasn’t abortion-related.
Medical experts emphasize that about 2% of pregnancies are ectopic, and they remain a major cause of early maternal mortality. Florida’s health department has since released guidance affirming the legality of life-saving pregnancy terminations.
Cammack’s story underlines the urgent need for clearer communication between lawmakers and healthcare providers.