As of 2021, the racial demographics of the United States were:

• White (non-Hispanic): 59.3%

• Black or African American: 13.6%

• Hispanic or Latino: 18.9%

• Other races: 8.2%

Despite comprising only 13.6% of the population, Black Americans account for a staggering 39.2% of all abortions, as reported by the CDC. This disproportionate impact highlights a serious ethical concern: abortion appears to disproportionately target minority communities. Many argue that this trend is not a coincidence but a consequence of a system that disadvantages people of color.

Margaret Sanger’s Legacy and Planned Parenthood’s Controversial Foundations

Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, was an advocate of eugenics, a belief system focused on controlling the reproduction of groups she deemed “unfit,” which included the poor, disabled, and minority populations. Sanger spoke openly about her views on population control, emphasizing selective breeding and even giving speeches to the Ku Klux Klan. Her rhetoric went beyond the idea of women’s empowerment and veered into advocating for racial and socioeconomic control.

Planned Parenthood, the organization she established, continues to be scrutinized for practices that many believe echo these troubling roots. For example, a 2012 study found that 79% of surgical abortion facilities are located within walking distance of African American or Hispanic/Latino neighborhoods. Critics argue that this proximity is deliberate, perpetuating a cycle where vulnerable communities are disproportionately impacted by abortion services. This troubling pattern raises questions about whether these communities are being targeted and why more resources aren’t devoted to supporting maternal health and alternatives to abortion.

Medical Malpractice and Preventable Deaths Post-Roe

The medical field has faced serious ethical scrutiny for preventable deaths related to poor treatment decisions, highlighting a healthcare system that sometimes fails women in crisis situations, even when abortion is not involved:

1. Amber Nicole Thurman (Georgia, August 2022): Amber Nicole Thurman, a 28-year-old mother, died from sepsis after experiencing complications from a medication abortion. Medical staff at Piedmont Henry Hospital in Stockbridge failed to perform a timely dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure, despite clear signs of infection. This delay in care, which experts deemed preventable, illustrates a tragic failure of duty by healthcare providers who had the tools and knowledge to intervene.

2. Nevaeh Crain (Texas, October 2023): Nevaeh Crain, an 18-year-old woman, died from sepsis after Christus Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth Hospital discharged her multiple times during a miscarriage. Doctors William Hawkins and Marcelo Totorica had the medical expertise to save her but failed to act even as her condition worsened. This case emphasizes that her death resulted not from restrictive laws but from a failure by the medical team to take necessary, life-saving actions.

3. Josseli Barnica (Texas, September 2021): Josseli Barnica, 28, died from sepsis after Houston hospital staff refused to treat her miscarriage, citing legal concerns. In this case, healthcare providers cited the legal environment as a reason for inaction. However, medical experts have pointed out that nothing in the law forced these doctors to withhold critical care. Their decision not to perform the necessary procedures reflected a failure to fulfill their ethical and medical responsibilities.

A Pro-Life Perspective

The facts are clear: abortion disproportionately affects minority communities, and the history of organizations like Planned Parenthood is rooted in ideologies that sought to control the reproduction of marginalized groups. It is crucial to recognize that abortion should not be used as a convenient option, especially when it continues to harm the most vulnerable populations. Every unborn life deserves protection, and society must work to provide better alternatives, like supporting comprehensive maternal health, increasing access to adoption services, and promoting resources that empower women to choose life.

Additionally, recent preventable deaths highlight the importance of medical professionals upholding their duty to provide care. These tragic outcomes were not caused by pro-life laws but by failures within the healthcare system. Physicians have a moral and professional obligation to intervene when lives are at risk. Addressing these failures should be part of a holistic approach to protecting both women and unborn children, ensuring that every life is valued and safeguarded.