Idaho Physician Stories
I’m Not Sure Why I Stay
With COVID we went from heroes—people ringing bells, wearing t-shirts—to “we don’t trust you,” almost overnight. OBGYN is already stressful, and this is just one more thing.
A Huge Weight Lifted Off
Pregnancy is really complicated. Most of the time when it’s good, it’s good. But when it’s bad, it’s really bad. I don’t think people understand how hard and complicated pregnancy can be.
Holding Patients’ Stories
You do the best you can and try to meet women where they are and help them where you can, be true to your own values, of course. But sometimes, it's a hard decision, and a harder decision, and that's what you get.
In an Abusive Relationship with the State of Idaho
It's wrong to take that decision-making power away from the woman. I felt I was being complicit by just going along. It feels like what women describe when they're in an abusive relationship. Everything else is so great. There's this one thing that's really, really bad.
Initial Reactions to Dobbs
I initially felt like this is COVID 2.0. COVID specifically for OBGYNs or women’s healthcare providers because it was all about the words that you use.
One of the Few People I Trusted
Having you as a mentor was always great. Pelvic pain, for example, is something residents dread. I remember you saying, “These are the exciting ones. We get to use our brain, compassion, and patience.” It’s true.
Origin Stories
I always wanted to be a doctor. Since fourth grade it was my north star.
Ethically obligated
At the very least, I would have to give up OB.
Clouded by the laws
There is rarely a pregnancy loss situation that doesn’t feel clouded by the laws that we’re working under.
Moral distress
But things can come up in any pregnancy and the laws affect all of them, whether wanted or unwanted.
Why Idaho?
Why Idaho? I grew up here. I left for college, moved around for training and did my residency in California. I loved California and felt very at home there, but Idaho was also home too.
“Figure it out.”
What are we supposed to do now? And the answer we got was, “Well, you all have to figure it out.”
No Escape
I felt so much uncertainty about my decision to stay. As time went on, seeing the writing on the wall for the country—this wasn't the only state where this was happening.
These laws are not helping people
Where I trained, it was the opposite. It was amazing to see how much we could help, and impact, in so many ways.
We support patients’ choices
We are not making unilateral decisions. We should be a safe space for you, in order to move forward.
We don’t have enough OBs
Idaho is unique in that we rely heavily on Family Doctors to provide OB care, particularly in rural areas.
We don’t have the capacity
There are a lot of urgent or emergent things that cause routine things to get pushed out.
Is it safe to ask about an abortion?
One of the biggest things is that, if people don’t know, they are scared to ask.
MaryAlice’s Story
“When I was in medical school, I kept trying to like other specialties more. But I kept coming back to women’s health.”
OBGYN MaryAlice Lopez speaks about the barriers created by Idaho's abortion bans and her role as both physician and educator. Many patients lack knowledge about pregnancy and are afraid to ask due to the state laws. In addition, routine appointments are being scheduled farther out because fewer doctors are available. All of this takes heavy tolls on doctors who remain in Idaho, because they're people too.
Kristen & Loren’s Story
“As the laws progressed, there were a lot of questions like, I don’t know if I can carry babies to term.”
Miscarriage is common, and Idaho's laws unnecessarily create serious health and financial risks for pregnant people. Kristen and Loren discuss their experiences with infertility, multiple miscarriages, denial of legal routine care, and how this informs Dr Colson's work as an FMOB in Idaho.