A Tennessee woman was denied prenatal care because she was unmarried
By NJ Chicaa
@NJChicaa (124283)
United States
July 24, 2025 9:51am CST
I'm really going to have to finally read/watch The Handmaid's Tale because it sounds like we are going to that as every day passes. This is sick and of course it happened in a southern red state. SHOCKER.
A 35 year old woman in Tennessee was denied prenatal care thanks to their 2025 Medical Ethics Defense Act which allows doctors to deny treatment to people whose lifestyle they don't agree with. She was 4 weeks pregnant, had been with her partner for 15 years, and they have a 13 year old child.
Like WTF is so outrageous or objectionable about that aside from the fact that they aren't married? Who cares? Why is it the provider's business? What happened to the Hippocratic Oath?
This is disgusting. I would never want to be a woman of reproductive age living in a red state. I cannot believe that women vote for these politicians who can ruin their lives.
https://nashvillebanner.com/2025/07/20/doctor-denies-pregnant-woman-care/
8 people like this
6 responses
@RasmaSandra (87968)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Jul
That is the most absurd thing every and boy, suddenly makes me glad to be the age I am and alone,
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (77859)
• United States
24 Jul
Maybe she should have said, “Fine, then I’ll go have an abortion.” 
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (7369)
• United States
24 Jul
This story is republished. It was first reported by Nashville Banner contributor Rachel Wells for TN Repro News.
Sourcing note: The woman featured in this story shared her account in a direct interview with TN Repro News and previously spoke publicly about the incident during a town hall attended by Rep. Gloria Johnson. She requested anonymity due to concerns about medical and professional retaliation in her rural community. While TN Repro News has not identified the physician involved, the account reflects what legal and reproductive health experts say is a plausible outcome under Tennessee’s Medical Ethics Defense Act.
Something sounds fishy here. The woman is not identified. The physician is not identified. The clinic is not identified.
...legal and reproductive health experts say is a plausible outcome...
It's so outrageous that a doctor refused care based on the marital status of a patient, I just don't believe it. Every news account I found is based on this one article.
@LindaOHio (197800)
• United States
25 Jul
This is so unfair to deny someone medical treatment because she isn't married.
