Texas’ health department appointed a vocal anti-abortion OB-GYN to a committee that reviews deaths related to pregnancy, even as doctors warn that the state’s strict abortion laws endanger women’s lives.
Dr. Ingrid Skop was named as one of the new members of the Texas Maternal Morality and Morbidity Review Committee by the Texas Department of State Health Services last week. She will begin her term on June 1.
The committee gathers data on deaths linked to pregnancy, offers suggestions to lawmakers on best practices and policy changes, and will assess how abortion laws impact maternal mortality.
With over 30 years of experience as an OB-GYN, Skop serves as vice president and director of medical affairs at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, a research organization opposed to abortion. She will represent rural areas on the committee.
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Skop, who has practiced primarily in San Antonio, mentioned to the Houston Chronicle that she has cared for many women from remote Texas regions with limited maternity services, including those dealing with abortion-related complications.
Texas has enacted one of the nation’s strictest abortion bans. Physicians have sought clarity on the state’s medical exemption, which permits abortions to protect a woman’s life or prevent serious bodily harm. However, doctors argue that the exemption’s ambiguity makes it risky to provide necessary care due to potential legal consequences. Offenders could face severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences, hefty fines, and loss of medical licenses.
