Dr. Laura Andreson in Tennessee has dedicated her life to helping women and their families. So when Roe fell, she was furious and decided to throw her hat in the political ring.
My decision to run for office was solidified after I realized that there were no other effective ways to influence my legislators. If I did not step up, then who would?
I feel it is something I was called to do, that I needed to stand up for my patients, myself, my colleagues, and my profession.
I have been an OB/GYN for 22 years. I have taken care of women and their families in all stages of life. I have shared their happiest days and their worst days.
There is no room for politics in my exam room; the decisions in pregnancy belong between a woman, her family and her physician.
So when Roe fell, and the Tennessee trigger ban made abortion illegal in Tennessee, I was angry.
“How did this happen?” I asked myself.
“How would we navigate this in real-time with patients?”
There were meetings with legal advisors, physician colleagues, and I even hired a criminal justice attorney on retainer to protect myself during this uncharted land of practicing medicine post Roe.
The stakes are high for physicians who face committing a Class C felony, prison time, fines, and loss of their medical license.
The stakes are higher for patients, too, considering it’s life-saving care.
After Roe fell, I wondered when I would commit my first abortion-related felony. Patients were suffering in Tennessee and in other states because of the bans.
Tennessee’s anti-abortion laws are written to be intentionally vague so that you have to really decide if you have enough “evidence” to treat your patient.
So if you make the wrong choice, the state of Tennessee finds you acted too soon, there would be consequences.
I became engaged politically after the fall of Roe. I started speaking at press conferences at the capitol, met with legislators, and attended committee meetings.
I realized quickly that the political powers are far more easily influenced by the money given by special interest groups than physicians testifying on why the laws are harming patients.
The next step was joining a lawsuit against the state of Tennessee that questions the constitutionality of these laws and to bring clarifications for those of us in the trenches trying to decide between criminal charges or malpractice.
But still no changes. No exceptions beyond treating ectopic or molar pregnancies and, in some cases, saving the life of the mother.
No bills regarding abortion care even got out of committee in the Tennessee legislature this year due to it being an “election” year.
But the bills to protect IVF and contraception were quickly dismissed, and I was told by a female legislator that I was gaslighting my patients and the public by suggesting these rights were in danger of being taken away.
I did not fight for Roe at the time because I was led to believe it would never fall. I won’t fall for that kind of rhetoric again.
That’s when I began envisioning a run for office. I had not originally planned to run this year, but the continued apathy in Tennessee was concerning.
The Williamson County Democratic Party organized an event for me to get the required signatures, and it’s been a wild ride ever since.
There was so much to organize: getting a treasurer, an EIN, a website, social media accounts, finding a campaign manager, and fundraising, which involves asking everyone I know and then those I do not know for money to fund the campaign. To run a house race in Tennessee, the budget is 100K!
However, I really do enjoy it. My learning curve has been steep. It’s a new outlet for my frustration and wanting to see things change in our state. I have run innumerable ½ marathons and 11 full marathons and I’m finding there are similarities in campaign life.
I’m not afraid to work hard to reach a goal or obligation and will do all I can to win this race!
I truly believe most of us want what is best for others. We should try to treat each other as we wish to be treated, with kindness and respect.
The divisiveness in our country is not beneficial to any of us, we need to have hard discussions and build back our communities.
I believe I can help to bring this change to Tennessee’s House District 63 when given the opportunity.
To learn more about Dr. Andreson and her campaign, click here.
