The Dark Reality Of Coat Hanger Abortions

The coat hanger has become a symbol of the fight for abortion rights. It represents the dangerous methods people have used to self-induce abortions when they did not have access to safe and legal abortions. In 1965, 17% of all pregnancy- and childbirth-related deaths were due to women seeking illegal abortions, according to Planned Parenthood. While the coat hanger is a powerful symbol, some advocates say it misrepresents the reality of abortion today and should be retired. Instead, they argue, the focus should be on safe, legal, and accessible abortion options, such as medication and surgical abortions.

The wire coat hanger is a symbol of the fight for abortion rights

The coat hanger has been used as a protest tool by pro-choice activists, who have turned to it as a symbol and a warning of what lies ahead for women if abortion services become illegal. It is a cheap and accessible object that can be widely and quickly used as a symbol. In April 1969, 300,000 protesters in Washington marched with coat hangers around their necks, and in 2016, protesters in Ohio decorated the statehouse fencing with coat hangers to oppose the Heartbeat Bill. In the wake of the 2022 Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, coat hangers were waved high in the air by protesters outside the U.S. Supreme Court.

However, some pro-choice activists and doctors believe that the coat hanger makes abortions seem unsafe and violent, and so bolsters pro-life arguments. They recommend using more empowering imagery to advocate for abortions.

The coat hanger has also been turned into pro-choice jewellery or accessories, such as pendants or badges, and some people have even got it tattooed as a reminder of protests for legal abortion rights.

The coat hanger abortion method is unsafe and can be deadly

Before abortion was legalised, the coat hanger method resulted in uterine perforation, hemorrhage, sepsis and, in some cases, death. In addition to the physical dangers, there is also a risk of arrest and jail time for those who attempt to terminate their own pregnancies. In 2015, Anna Yocca was arrested and charged with attempted murder after trying to abort her 24-week fetus with a coat hanger. She was later released after pleading guilty to a felony.

The coat hanger method is not only dangerous but also ineffective. In the past, thousands of women died each year from dangerous abortions, but this is no longer the case. Legal abortions, performed by authorised practitioners, are now considered safe and effective. Medical abortions, which can be self-managed at home, and surgical abortions, or aspiration abortions, are both safe options that do not carry the same risks as the coat hanger method.

While the coat hanger has become a powerful symbol of the pro-choice movement, reproductive rights advocates argue that it is time to retire this imagery. They claim that it misrepresents the reality of abortion today and that there are now safer and more effective options available. Instead, they encourage people to ""put down the coat hangers and pick up the pills", highlighting the availability of medical abortion pills that can be prescribed via telemedicine and, in some cases, distributed by mail.

The coat hanger abortion method can cause uterine perforation, hemorrhage, sepsis, and infection

The coat hanger abortion method is a dangerous and potentially deadly procedure. The coat hanger itself is neither sterile nor clean. The sharp end of the hanger can lacerate and perforate the cervix, and unskilled use can lead to uterine perforation, a potentially fatal injury. The uterus is soft and easily perforated, and if the uterine wall is punctured, there is a high risk of lacerating a uterine artery, which can result in fatal blood loss. Puncturing the bowel can also occur, leading to severe pain and, without prompt medical care, death within three days.

Uterine perforation can also introduce infection, which can spread throughout the body and lead to septic shock. Even if the coat hanger misses the cervix, it can still puncture the top of the vagina or lacerate the uterine arteries, with potentially fatal consequences. The use of a coat hanger for abortion can also be accompanied by sexual assault, as the type of person willing to perform such a procedure may also be willing to commit sexual assault.

The coat hanger abortion method is a dangerous and traumatic procedure that can cause severe physical harm and even death. It is a stark reminder of the importance of safe and legal access to abortion and the need to ensure that such procedures are a thing of the past.

The coat hanger abortion method is not making a comeback

The coat hanger is a symbol of darker days when abortion was illegal and the options for terminating an unwanted pregnancy were unsafe and deadly. Before abortion was legalised, dangerous and desperate measures such as the coat hanger method resulted in uterine perforation, hemorrhage, sepsis, and sometimes death. Today, legal and safe options are available, including surgical abortions (also known as aspiration abortions) and medical abortions, which use a combination of the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol.

The coat hanger abortion method involves inserting a wire coat hanger through the cervix and into the uterus to cause the uterus to expel its contents. This method is life-threatening and poses severe risks to the person on whom it is performed. In the past, when abortion was illegal, many women resorted to self-induced abortions using coat hangers or other dangerous methods. However, this is not the reality today.

While the coat hanger may be a visually powerful symbol, reproductive rights advocates argue that it misrepresents the current reality of abortion. Dr DeShawn Taylor, an obstetrician and gynecologist, states that the idea that people will inflict harm upon themselves with instruments to terminate a pregnancy is not accurate. Instead, safe and effective options, such as surgical and medical abortions, are available.

Renee Bracey Sherman, the founder of We Testify, an organisation dedicated to the representation of people who have abortions, agrees that the coat hanger symbol should be retired. She argues that it represents a lack of information about safe options and plays into the hands of the anti-abortion movement. Instead, she suggests that advocates should focus on promoting the availability of abortion pills, which can be self-managed at home and account for a large majority of abortions in the US.

Safe, legal abortion access is a constitutional right

The right to safe, legal abortion access is enshrined in international human rights law, which establishes that denying access to abortion is a form of discrimination and jeopardizes a range of human rights. Restricting or banning abortion access can result in more illegal and unsafe abortions, driving up maternal mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, abortion restrictions do not prevent abortions from taking place but instead push them underground, increasing the risk of unsafe procedures and police involvement.

The criminalization of abortion disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, including people of color, people living in poverty, and LGBTQ+ individuals. In addition to legal barriers, people seeking abortions may also face social stigma, economic constraints, and distance to services as obstacles. As a result, even in places where abortion is legal, it may still be difficult to access.

The recent overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States has eliminated the federal constitutional right to abortion, with one in three women now living in states where abortion is not accessible. This has had a disproportionate impact on communities of color, where systemic racism has long blocked access to healthcare.

Safe, legal abortion access is a fundamental right that must be protected. By ensuring access to safe and legal abortions, we uphold the human rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities who have historically been denied their reproductive rights.

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