Dr. Lisa Cooper, MD, MPH Addresses Supreme Court Decision on WYPR

On June 24, 2022, Dr. Lisa Cooper, MD, MPH was among a number of experts featured on WYPR to discuss the consequences of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade, which protected the right for pregnant women to choose to have an abortion. Dr. Cooper specifically addressed how this decision will disproportionately impact women facing poverty and women of color (WOC).

Since 1973, women in the United States have held the right to undergo abortion under the care of a physician. For the past 49 years, abortion has continued to spark controversy; primarily conservative politicians and voters have sought to overturn this ruling while others have defended the right for women to make decisions regarding their own bodies.

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court handed down a decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade, ending the federal constitutional right to an abortion. The decision has been explosive and has left Americans with countless questions regarding the future of women’s healthcare in the United States.

Dr. Cooper addressed the ways in which WOC will be disproportionately impacted by the Supreme Court’s decision, stating:

“[The decision] is not going to affect everyone to the same extent. It’s unfortunate, and everyone is going to be harmed by this ruling, but there are some people who are going to suffer more by virtue of the fact that they are already experiencing a lot of challenges obtaining resources and care, and they face a number of other challenges to meet their basic needs.”

Dr. Cooper also spoke to the risks already facing pregnant women in the United States, especially WOC, citing that “[the USA] has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed country, especially for WOC.” Following this Supreme Court decision, risks for pregnant women will be even higher.

To hear from Dr. Cooper and other experts featured on WYPR’s coverage of this decision, click here. Dr. Cooper’s segment can be found beginning at the 54-minute mark.