A woman whose foetus developed a deadly illness says she was refused an abortion in Louisiana

a woman whose baby had a rare, nearly invariably deadly illness has gained national attention after claiming she was refused an abortion in louisiana. her struggle occurs while the state-level battle over abortion rights continues, with some states making it almost hard to get the operation.

nancy davis had three children and was expecting a fourth. however, she said that her joy changed to sorrow earlier this month when her unborn child was diagnosed with acrania, a rare disorder in which the skull does not grow.

the majority of infants with acrania are stillborn or die shortly after birth. doctors urged davis to terminate her pregnancy, but a baton rouge hospital rejected her request for an abortion.

“i was very heartbroken,” davis told the media. “and the only thing i could replay in my head was, i was carrying my baby to bury my baby.”

her attorney, ben crump, cited davis’ case as an illustration of the ambiguity and vagueness of louisiana’s abortion regulations. he requested that state legislatures convene a special session to clarify the situation.

“ms. davis was among the first women to be caught in the crosshairs of confusion due to louisiana’s rush to restrict abortion. but she will hardly be the last,” he said.

louisiana is one of eleven states with the strictest abortion regulations, prohibiting practically all abortions with few or no exceptions. all surrounding states have similar limitations, requiring individuals to choose between long distance travel or carrying a nonviable pregnancy to term.

“these last few weeks have been very traumatizing,” she said. “um, it’s been very, you know, emotional.”

the louisiana department of health said that its abortion criteria are developing and that it intends to add acrania to the list of circumstances that would permit an abortion, but it may be too late for davis. she informed cbs news that she intends to fly the next week to get the procedure in another state.