A year after Florida’s abortion law took effect, a shocking case involving Republican Rep. Kat Cammack and a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy is shedding light on how legal ambiguity can obstruct emergency care — even for lawmakers.
When Florida’s six-week abortion ban took effect in May 2024, its ripple effects didn’t just hit pro-choice advocates. Republican Congresswoman Kat Cammack — a staunch pro-life leader — found herself caught in the very confusion she helped politically enable.
Cammack, who co-chairs the House Pro-Life Caucus, was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy — a life-threatening condition in which a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. She was just five weeks along when she arrived at the emergency room, experiencing complications. The standard treatment? A methotrexate injection to terminate the nonviable pregnancy and save her life. But doctors hesitated.
Even though Florida’s law permits abortion in medical emergencies, fear had already gripped the system. Medical staff were unsure whether administering the drug would expose them to legal consequences. The law, vague in its wording and lacking a definition for ectopic pregnancies, left many healthcare providers unsure of what was legal and what wasn’t.
Cammack resorted to pulling up Florida’s abortion statutes on her phone and even tried contacting the governor’s office from the hospital bed. Only after hours of delay and confusion did doctors finally administer the medication.
Her story, first shared with the Wall Street Journal, is sparking outrage and irony in equal measure. Despite being a vocal opponent of abortion rights, Cammack’s experience is now being used by critics as proof that Florida’s abortion law — like many across the country — is dangerously unclear and chilling in practice.
In her comments, Cammack did not fault the law itself. Instead, she blamed what she called “fearmongering” from abortion rights groups for creating an atmosphere of confusion. “It was absolute fearmongering at its worst,” she said, claiming that doctors were misled into thinking life-saving care could result in prosecution.
But abortion rights advocates disagree. Molly Duane from the Center for Reproductive Rights argues the law’s lack of clarity is the root problem. “Ectopic pregnancies aren’t even defined in the law. That’s a huge issue when diagnosing and acting quickly is literally a matter of life or death,” she said.
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration eventually issued a memo stating that emergency abortion care is permitted under the law. But that guidance came after months of hesitation and fear among medical professionals, many of whom worried about their licenses, reputations, and criminal liability.
Alison Haddock, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, echoed that concern. “Care in early pregnancy is a medically complicated space,” she said, “and many physicians are left wondering whether their clinical judgment will hold up if they’re ever prosecuted.”
Florida’s law, which bans abortions after six weeks, was passed under Governor Ron DeSantis and became one of the most restrictive in the U.S. Most women don’t even realize they’re pregnant by that point, making the law effectively a near-total ban. And while exemptions exist for life-threatening cases, the ambiguity has left too many doctors — and patients — afraid to act.
Now, more than a year later and pregnant again, Cammack says she hopes her story will help both sides “find common ground.” “I would stand with any woman — Republican or Democrat — and fight for them to be able to get care in a situation where they are experiencing a miscarriage or an ectopic,” she said.
But critics argue that if even a lawmaker can’t access timely medical care in an emergency, what hope do ordinary Floridians have?
As the nation watches how reproductive rights play out in post-Roe America, one thing is increasingly clear: real lives — even those of pro-life leaders — are being put at risk by unclear, chilling legislation.
Leo Cruz brings sharp insights into the world of politics, offering balanced reporting and analysis on the latest policies, elections, and global political events. With years of experience covering campaigns and interviewing world leaders, Leo ensures readers are always informed and engaged.
