Episode notes
As Missouri voters prepare to decide Amendment 3 this November, what would a YES or NO vote mean for abortion care, pregnancy complications, gender-affirming care and medical decision-making?
In this episode, high-risk OB/GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Elizabeth Ann (Betsy) Wickstrom draws on more than 30 years caring for pregnant patients in Kansas and Missouri. A self-described lifelong Eisenhower Republican, she explains why she became an abortion rights advocate and discusses pregnancy emergencies that may require abortion care.
She addresses misconceptions about Plan B, fetal viability, and how legal uncertainty may influence medical decision-making. She also addresses exceptions for the life of a pregnant patient, provisions involving transgender and gender-diverse minors, and offers advice for talking about Amendment 3 with friends, family, and neighbors.
Whether you've already decided how to vote or are still weighing the issue, this episode offers a physician's perspective on one of Missouri's most consequential ballot measures. Dr. Wickstrom’s views are her own and do not represent any past, present, or future employer.