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More Med Students Avoiding Abortion Ban States

May 9, 2024

What: For the second year in a row the number of applicants to residency programs dropped in states that have abortion bans in place. Applications fell four percent in states with the near-total bans, compared to less than one percent in states where abortions are legal.

Why it matters: The drop was across the board in all specialties, but was especially significant among OBGYN applicants, which fell nearly seven percent in states with near-total abortion bans. It ultimately means abortion ban states could end up with doctors who aren’t trained to properly “manage miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies or potential complications, such as infection or hemorrhaging, that could stem from pregnancy loss.”

Source: KFF / NPR

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