Abortion-Rights Advocates Hit Back at GOP Rep. Kat Cammack - Newsweek
By: Khaleda Rahman (Newsweek)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Khaleda Rahman is Newsweek's National Correspondent based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on education and national news. Khaleda joined Newsweek in 2019 and had previously worked at the MailOnline in London, New York and Sydney. She is a graduate of University College London. Languages: English. You can get in touch with Khaleda by emailing k.rahman@newsweek.com
Abortion-rights advocates have hit back at Florida Representative Kat Cammack after she blamed the fearmongering about the state's near-total abortion ban for doctors hesitating to treat her ectopic pregnancy last year.
Cammack, an abortion opponent who co-chairs the House Pro-Life Caucus, told the Wall Street Journal that doctors had initially resisted giving her a drug needed to end her ectopic pregnancy in May 2024 because they feared they could face criminal charges or lose their medical licenses under Florida's restrictive abortion law.
But Keisha Mulfort, a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida, told Newsweek that the delays Cammack "experienced are not the result of advocates defending abortion access—they are a direct consequence of Florida lawmakers passing extreme, confusing, and politically motivated abortion bans."
Newsweek has contacted a spokesperson for Cammack for comment via email.
Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) arrives for a House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on September 19, 2023 in Washington, DC.Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) arrives for a House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on September 19, 2023 in Washington, DC.Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
The Context
Abortion has been banned at all stages of pregnancy, with limited exceptions, in 13 Republican-controlled states after the Supreme Courtoverturned Roe v. Wade three years ago.
In Florida, it is barred after the first six weeks, before many know they are pregnant. The ban took effect on May 1, 2024, and those who violate the law face up to five years in prison, fines of up to $5,000 and loss of medical licenses.
The law did not ban treatment of ectopic pregnancies, which occur when a fetus implants outside of the uterus and has no room to grow. If not treated, such pregnancies can rupture, causing organ damage, hemorrhaging or even death.
A report from the nonprofit Physicians for Human Rights in September 2024 said the ban created an "unworkable legal landscape" and that doctors had reported that ER staff were afraid to provide methotrexate to patients as it was an "abortive agent." The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration then issued guidance to address what it called "misinformation" about the state's abortion law, stating that abortion is permissible at any state of pregnancy in Florida to save the life and health of the mother, including in cases of ectopic or molar pregnancies and when there is premature rupture of membranes.
What To Know
Cammack told the Journal that doctors had estimated she was just five weeks into an ectopic pregnancy, there was no heartbeat and her life was at risk.
But she said hospital staff were worried about giving her a shot of methotrexate to help expel the pregnancy even though it was legal in her case. Cammack said she did not blame the Florida law for what she experienced, but messaging from abortion-rights advocates.
"It was absolute fearmongering at its worst," she told the newspaper.
But abortion-rights advocates say it is the law that is causing problems.
"These laws are deliberately vague, creating a climate of fear and confusion among doctors who face prison time, fines, and the loss of their medical licenses for doing their jobs. That's not a messaging problem—it's a legislative failure," Mulfort said.
They pointed to the 2024 report from Physicians for Human Rights, saying it "explicitly names Florida's extreme abortion ban as the source of the unworkable legal landscape that has stifled doctors from providing lifesaving care in the state, making it clear where the confusion—and the danger—truly lies."
Mulfort added that if a ballot measure that would have protected abortion rights in Florida's state constitution had "not faced unprecedented government opposition and a 60% threshold to pass, the law in Florida would be much clearer, and women, including Rep. Cammack, would be much safer."
Lauren Miller and Ashley Brandt, who were among the plaintiffs that sued Texas being denied abortions in their state despite developing dangerous pregnancy complications, also called out Cammack for her comments.
"As Rep. Cammack learned herself: there's no such thing as a no-risk pregnancy, best-case scenario is that you are low risk," Miller told Newsweek.
Brandt added that Cammack's situation shows how all women face risks in states with abortion bans.
"Just because you are anti-abortion or vote Republican, it does not make you immune to the dangers and complications that come with being pregnant," she told Newsweek.
What People Are Saying
Cammack told the Journalthat abortion-rights advocates may view her experience differently, saying: "There will be some comments like, 'Well, thank God we have abortion services,' even though what I went through wasn't an abortion."
Mulfort told Newsweek: "All Floridians deserve the freedom to get timely, compassionate medical care—without judgment, delay, or fear of punishment. We stand with patients and providers across the state who are navigating this dangerous and unjust landscape—and we'll continue fighting to restore the rights these bans have stripped away."
Ashley Brandt told Newsweek: "Our focus should be on allowing our medical professionals to care for their patients to the best of their ability. Unfortunately, anti-abortion laws only confuse and restrict health care providers from efficiently treating women experiencing complications during pregnancy. The consequences to that have been tragic."
What's Next
Abortion-rights advocates say they will continue to fight to restore the rights that recent bans have taken away. Cammack, who is expecting her first child this summer, said she shared her story hoping that it would help those on opposing sides find common ground.
Update 6/25/25, 2:30 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to identify Keisha Mulfort as the spokesperson for the ACLU of Florida.
Trolling, taunting, spamming, and off topic comments may be removed at the discretion of group mods. NT members that are known plagiarists, repeat comments, or continue to disrupt/deflect the conversation risk having all of their comments deleted. Please remember to quote the person(s) to whom you are replying to preserve continuity of this seed. Any use of the phrase "Trump Derangement Syndrome" or the TDS acronym in a comment will be deleted. Any use of the term "Brandon", "Traitor Joe", or any variations thereof, when referring to President Biden, will be deleted. Right wing trolls can expect to have their irrelevant questions and comments deleted. Posting debunked lies will be subject to deletion. Use of the terms "leftist" or "lefty" will also be subject to deletion.
Tags
Who is online
130 visitors
all things being equal, she probably should've have hemorrhaged in a hospital parking lot for a couple hours before getting help ...
The Chickens Have Come Home to Roost
oh look, it's the maga house of representatives ...
You reap what you sow. In this case, getting this bill passed had dire consequences for Cammack. The law as written is vague and it's no wonder doctors are hesitant to abort ectopic pregnancies
I'm really going to enjoy stuffing thumper busy-body's back into their churches after fucking them up ...
Vague laws is 1 reason why women suffer from abortion restrictions. At least Roe/Casey had clear lines of permissibility or restriction. The states cannot even provide a rational or legal basis for anything restrictions.
What she wanted came back to give her a problem.
I guess doctors are just supposed to roll the dice on their careers and liberty because she says it’ll be ok.
the father of her fetus was a turkey baster ...
that she took with her to a xxx arcade ...
For like the millionth time, making abortions illegal has minimal effect on the abortion rate. All it does is make criminals of women who choose to terminate. The demand for abortions is created by unwanted pregnancies. The way to stop unwanted pregnancies is known. 1. Require comprehensive sex education for all children before puberty. 2. Make all forms of birth control easily attainable without parental or spousal permission or notification. 3. Make family planning services easier available to all persons of child bearing years. Services such as those provided by Planned Parenthood. It is simply, really...
Instead MAGA want to force white women to breed like cattle out of their fear, "They'll Replace Us!
They already did, and that is not a bad thing at all.
... what, there's no 24 hour veterinarians in floriduh?