The family of Georgia woman Amber Thurman is calling on Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to stop politicizing her death. Thurman passed away in 2022 after taking an abortion pill, and her relatives feel that her story is being overused and exploited for political purposes. Shanette Williams, Thurman’s mother, recalls how her daughter went to the hospital for an abortion complication which resulted in her not expelling all the fetal tissue from her body. Despite a delayed medical treatment, which could have saved Thurman’s life, she passed away from septic shock.
Thurman, a medical assistant and mother to a six-year-old son, had taken the abortion pill due to personal circumstances. She had missed a surgical abortion appointment in North Carolina and decided to take the medications on her own. However, she started experiencing complications that led to her hospitalization and eventual passing. Harris and Walz have mentioned Thurman in various speeches and debates, highlighting her tragic death as a result of abortion laws and healthcare issues. Republicans have accused them of exploiting the tragedy to push their political agenda against Donald Trump’s policies on abortion.
Amber’s stepfather, Elijah Warren, believes that the focus should be on the neglect and poor care provided by the hospital rather than the abortion itself. He states that the hospital staff should have monitored Thurman after the abortion procedure to prevent complications. Thurman’s death was preventable, according to a report from Georgia’s maternal mortality review committee. A medical malpractice lawsuit is expected to be filed on behalf of Thurman’s family against Piedmont hospital for the inadequate treatment she received.
The Democratic nominees have often recounted Thurman’s story during their campaign, with Harris sharing it during a speech in Georgia and on a podcast. Despite getting some details wrong, they have used Thurman’s death as an example of the dangers of restrictive abortion laws. Thurman’s mother, during a campaign town-hall in Michigan, emphasized the importance of women having the right to make decisions about their bodies and access necessary medical care. The family is seeking justice for Thurman and for her story to be remembered as a call to action for better healthcare practices.
Thurman’s passing has led to policy changes at Piedmont hospital, where doctors have been trained on how to handle similar situations. The hospital has stated that they cannot provide legal advice but have implemented new protocols to comply with state laws. Thurman’s tragic death has sparked a debate around abortion laws and access to healthcare for women. Her family is hoping that her story will bring attention to the need for better medical practices and patient care to prevent such tragedies in the future. Warren, despite being against abortion, wants the focus to remain on holding the hospital accountable for Thurman’s death rather than using it for political gain.
