Selena Simmons-Duffin

Author's posts

What to know about the federal appeals court hearing on mifepristone

Mifepristone, a medication used for abortion, is the subject of arguments today in a federal appeals court case that could make it illegal.

The COVID public health emergency ends this week. Here’s what’s changing

Three years ago, the emergency declaration enabled certain tools for fighting the pandemic and protecting Americans. Now that it’s expiring, here’s what is changing — and what’s not.

How hospitals decide what qualifies as a life threatening emergency to allow abortion

In many states that ban abortion, there’s an exception for life threatening emergencies. But how do hospitals decide what situations qualify? Researchers set out to find out.

In Oklahoma, a woman was told to wait until she’s ‘crashing’ for abortion care

A new study shows women who call the hospitals in Oklahoma get confusing information about the state’s abortion bans. One family lived through that confusion with dire consequences last month.

The surprising science of how pregnancy begins

The start of pregnancy — as well as exactly when that happens — is a hot topic in some state legislatures and U.S. courts. Understanding the nuances of what happens when has never been more important.

A Good Friday funeral in Texas. Baby Halo’s parents had few choices in post-Roe Texas

When she gave birth to her baby with a fatal condition two months early, Samantha Casiano scrambled to raise funds for the funeral. Anti-abortion advocates say Texas laws are “working as designed.”

Maternal deaths in the U.S. spiked in 2021, CDC reports

After years of high rates, the country hit a new high during the pandemic, far exceeding rates in other developed nations. Black women are at especially high risk.

To safeguard healthy twin, she had to ‘escape’ Texas for abortion procedure

When Lauren Miller found out one of her twins had a fatal condition, she discovered her doctors in Texas would only say: You need to leave the state. She went to Colorado for a selective reduction.

More people than ever buy insurance on Healthcare.gov

It’s the last weekend for Obamacare open enrollment, and nearly 16 million Americans have signed up for a health insurance plan.

Her miscarriage left her bleeding profusely. An Ohio ER sent her home to wait

State law at the time prohibited abortion after around 6 weeks. Legal experts say this kind of law leaves doctors uncertain of what’s legal and can put patients in dangerous situations.