Woman Denied Abortion at Kansas Hospital Sues, Alleging Her Life Was Put at Risk

Lawsuit Filed Against Kansas Hospital

Mylissa Farmer, a woman from Joplin, Missouri, has filed a lawsuit against the University of Kansas Health System and the public oversight body governing its operations. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges that the hospital denied her an abortion despite severe pregnancy complications that put her at risk of sepsis and even death.

Federal Law and Hospital Response

Federal law mandates that emergency rooms must treat or stabilize patients in active labor and provide a medical transfer if they lack the resources to treat them. Medical facilities accepting Medicare funding are required to comply. Farmer’s lawsuit contends that the hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, violated this law as well as a state anti-discrimination act. The hospital has denied these allegations, asserting that the care provided to Farmer was appropriate, non-discriminatory, and compliant with all applicable laws.

Pregnancy Complications Amid Legal Uncertainty

Farmer, who was excited about her pregnancy, experienced her water breaking on August 2, 2022, just shy of 18 weeks’ gestation. This occurred shortly after the overturning of Roe v. Wade and on the day Kansas residents voted on a measure related to abortion restrictions. After being turned away by Freeman Health System in Joplin, Missouri, due to a newly enacted abortion ban, she sought help at the University of Kansas Hospital.

Federal Investigation Findings

A federal investigation revealed that doctors at both hospitals acknowledged that Farmer’s fetus would not survive, that she had lost amniotic fluid, and that she was at high risk of serious infection or losing her uterus. Despite this, neither hospital terminated the pregnancy as a fetal heartbeat was still detectable. The investigation found that doctors at Freeman Health System cited the statewide abortion ban, while a doctor at the University of Kansas Hospital initially suggested inducing labor but later reversed the decision due to perceived political risks.

Allegations of Neglect and Suffering

The lawsuit accuses the University of Kansas Hospital of abandoning Farmer in her time of crisis. It claims that she was turned away without receiving any treatment, not even basic care such as antibiotics or Tylenol. Her temperature and pain levels were reportedly not checked. Forced to return to the hospital in Joplin, Farmer’s health deteriorated further. She eventually drove several hours to a clinic in Illinois, where she underwent an abortion.

Aftermath and Legal Battle

The lawsuit states that the prolonged miscarriage led to a preventable infection, leaving Farmer unable to work for months and resulting in the loss of her home. Traumatized by the experience, she decided to have her tubes tied. Farmer expressed that she had hoped the University of Kansas Hospital would be her lifeline, but instead, she endured hours of agonizing labor in her car, fearing for her life.