A Pregnant Woman at Risk of Heart Failure Couldn’t Get Urgent Treatment. She Died Waiting for an Abortion.

In November 2023, Ciji Graham, a 34-year-old pregnant woman in Greensboro, North Carolina, experiencing a dangerous heart condition (atrial fibrillation), was denied a cardioversion procedure due to her pregnancy. Despite expert consensus that the procedure is safe during pregnancy, the cardiologist cited the pregnancy as a contraindication. Graham sought an abortion, believing it was the best option for her health, but faced difficulties due to abortion restrictions in North Carolina and surrounding states. She was unable to find timely treatment for either her heart condition or to terminate the pregnancy. Graham's health deteriorated as she struggled to navigate the narrowed medical options available to pregnant women with chronic conditions in states with abortion restrictions. She died while waiting for an abortion.

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