US EditionTennessee woman denied prenatal care for being unmarried - Nashville Banner
WASHINGTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, JUL 20 – The law permits providers to refuse care based on moral beliefs, raising concerns amid Tennessee's high maternal mortality rate, officials and advocates warn.
- Last Thursday, a 35-year-old pregnant woman in Jonesborough, Tennessee, was denied prenatal care because she isn’t married.
- On April 24th, Tennessee’s 2025 Medical Ethics Defense Act took effect, permitting providers to refuse treatment on religious, moral or ethical grounds.
- Reviewing her records, the OB-GYN reviewed her medical history around four weeks pregnant before refusing care because she wasn’t married, then advised her to seek care elsewhere.
- Following the refusal, she filed complaints with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and the American Medical Association, Nashville Banner reported.
- Concern is growing that the law could restrict care in rural areas, and medical professionals warn it undermines the Hippocratic Oath and fosters distrust.
13 Articles
13 Articles
A Tennessee woman said she was denied prenatal care for being unmarried under this newly signed act. What to know
A woman said she was denied prenatal care for being unmarried under the newly signed Medical Ethics Defense Act. Here's what to know about the Tennessee law.
Maternal health: Expert shares post-partum resources for expecting moms
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Whether you are a first or third-time mom, motherhood is an exciting journey. But one thing experts want to echo is the importance for expecting moms to seek care early on in their pregnancies or after their baby is born. According to UnitedHealthcare, nearly one in four women do not begin prenatal care in the first trimester, and nearly 40% skip post-partum visits entirely. KXAN’s Avery Travis and Will DuPree had the opportun…
A Tennessee Doctor Refused to Give a Woman Prenatal Care Because She’s Unmarried, She Tells Town Hall
During a town hall meeting in Jonesborough, Tennessee, last week, a 35-year-old woman shared a personal story about her doctor denying her prenatal care because she is unmarried. The woman, who is withholding her name for fear of attacks on her and her family, said she went to her doctor’s office after believing she had reached the fourth week of pregnancy. When she disclosed that she was… Source
A 35-year-old woman told me that her doctor denied her prenatal care because she was questioning the fact that she wasn't married, that she wasn't going to be.
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