Pallone Warns of Dangers Facing Doctors and Patients in New Report on Reproductive Health Crisis Triggered by Overturning Roe v. Wade

New Brunswick, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today led a roundtable discussion at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School to highlight the alarming findings of a new report released by his committee. The report, led by Pallone, thoroughly investigates the wide-ranging impact of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision in 2022, which overturned the right to abortion care established by Roe v. Wade in 1973. The event brought together OBGYNs, medical professionals, and students to discuss the report, “It Will Only Get Worse”: How the Supreme Court’s Dobbs Decision Will Decimate Reproductive Health Care for Generations, which reveals the critical threats posed by the ruling to both women's health and the future of medical education.

Participants in the roundtable included representatives from New Jersey Planned Parenthood, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Rutgers University faculty and students, and members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). These experts and stakeholders engaged in a robust discussion on the findings and implications of Pallone’s report, sharing their firsthand experiences and concerns about the current state and future of reproductive health care in the United States.

"Today’s discussion is vital," said Pallone. "This report, built on interviews with residency programs training the next generation of doctors, lays bare the harsh truth about the state of women’s health care. The key finding—that the Dobbs decision is already undermining OBGYN training and escalating life-threatening risks for women—paints a dire picture. If we don’t take swift action, the standard of medical expertise will plummet, putting the lives of women everywhere, including in New Jersey, in grave danger."

The report, which Pallone initiated, is based on comprehensive interviews with leaders from 20 OBGYN residency programs across 15 states, shedding light on the profound impact abortion restrictions are having on health care providers and patients. The report found negative consequences in both restrictive states as well as protective states as they strain resources to train residents and care for patients from other states.

Key findings from Pallone’s report, discussed at the roundtable, include:

Degraded Training for OBGYNs: Residency programs in restrictive states have seen a drastic reduction in abortion training, leaving new doctors unprepared to handle life-threatening pregnancy complications. In some cases, training has been reduced to mere simulations or theoretical instruction, severely compromising the competency of future OBGYNs.

Increased Health Risks: The report documents a disturbing rise in patients presenting with dangerous complications due to delayed care in restrictive states. Patients in these states are experiencing severe outcomes, including death, due to the inability of physicians to provide timely and appropriate care.

Nationwide Impact: In states that protect reproductive health care rights, residency programs are strained as they attempt to accommodate out-of-state residents and patients from restrictive states. This has strained resources in protective states as they work to train additional residents and care for a growing number of out-of-state patients.

"Moral Injury" and Mental Health: OBGYNs and residents are increasingly suffering from strain and burnout as they are prevented from being able to provide needed care for patients. Negative mental health effects among providers are on the rise as they face ethical dilemmas and legal risks in restrictive states. The fear of criminal liability is pervasive, leading to heightened stress and frustration among health care providers.

The roundtable also underscored the urgent need for Congressional action, particularly the passage of H.R. 12, the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would restore the right to abortion nationwide and ensure that patients can receive, and doctors can provide comprehensive reproductive health care, regardless of where they live.

“The findings in our new report are a wake-up call for all of us,” Pallone added. “If we don’t take action, we are setting up a generation of doctors and women for failure. Passing the Women’s Health Protection Act is not just about restoring rights—it’s about ensuring that our health care system can provide the care that women in this country deserve.”

“NJ is a leader in providing access to sexual and reproductive health care, a global need for all women as expressed by the United Nations, UNICEF, and other humanitarian organizations. This is evident in the many advanced family planning services we provide to all women, regardless of health insurance. NJ has always been a leader in promoting optimal health care, especially for women. We are the first state to legislate the creation of Maternal Health Awareness Day to support women and their infants with the best care during pregnancy and post-partum.  NJ First Lady Tammy Murphy has also been a pioneer in advancing women’s health care through initiatives such as Nurture NJ, which provides solutions for the reproductive and pregnancy challenges that women often confront,” says Gloria A Bachmann, MD, MMS, professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Medicine, associate dean for Women's Health, co-director, Women's Health Institute (WHI), Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

“Robert Wood Johnson Medical School strives to be a leader in providing reproductive care to women and training for our medical students in these important obstetrical and gynecologic areas. One example is the Family Planning Center that we have on campus and that serves all women regardless of health care coverage. It is led by two amazing providers, Dr. Glenmarie Matthews and Dr. Lily Bayat. Our learners are emersed in advanced education and practical training with patients, as they are the future of OB/GYN care in the state and beyond,” says Amy P. Murtha, MD, dean of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, who is also an accomplished researcher and maternal-fetal medicine specialist. Her research and clinical work have focused on caring for complicated pregnancies and identifying the best ways to diagnose and care for patients at risk for preterm birth. 

“Congressman Pallone’s recent report confirmed what we know to be true – the impacts of the Dobbs decision are having far reaching and devastating effects on patients and providers across the country. Even in protective states like New Jersey there are harmful and medically unnecessary barriers that stand in the way of people accessing abortion. As more people across the country turn to New Jersey for reproductive health care it is paramount that we ensure that the state is protecting and expanding access to care through initiatives like the Reproductive Freedom and Health Equity bill package. Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey is grateful for Congressman Pallone’s continued leadership on reproductive freedom and abortion access,” said Sarah Best, Deputy Director of Policy and Communications with Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey.

The full report is available here.