Today, there is a war raging in America—not with guns or soldiers, but in hospitals and courtrooms. Doctors who have dedicated their lives to healing are now being treated like criminals for providing essential medical care. It sounds like something out of a dystopian novel, but it’s happening right now.
As a writer, I often find myself diving into complex social issues, but few are as deeply personal and urgent as the fight for reproductive rights. In my book Tortured Justice Alabama, I explore the terrifying reality of doctors being criminalized for providing essential medical care. Unfortunately, this isn’t just fiction—it’s happening right now in America.
Doctors have dedicated their lives to saving and protecting patients. They take an oath to do no harm and to provide care based on science and compassion, not politics. However, restrictive abortion laws are forcing them into impossible situations where they must choose between their medical ethics and their own freedom. Do they help a woman in need and risk prison time, or do they turn their back on their patient to comply with unjust laws?
Doctors Under Attack
We don’t have to look far to see real-world examples of this crisis unfolding. Just this past week, Dr. Margaret Carpenter, a New York physician, was indicted in Louisiana for prescribing abortion pills to a Louisiana resident (New York Times, 2025). Even though she was operating legally under New York’s telemedicine abortion shield law, Louisiana decided to prosecute her anyway. This is the first case of its kind, but it likely won’t be the last.
Similarly, in Texas, Dr. Alan Braid publicly admitted to performing an abortion beyond the state’s six-week ban, knowing he would be sued (Washington Post, 2021). His reasoning? He couldn’t stand by while patients suffered, and he wanted to challenge the law head-on. He put his career and personal safety on the line because he knew that denying a woman an abortion can have devastating consequences.
The Impact on Patients and Doctors
When a woman seeks an abortion, it is often because continuing the pregnancy would threaten her health, well-being, or financial stability. Some are survivors of sexual assault, like the 10-year-old Ohio girl who was forced to travel to Indiana for care because her own state denied her the right to an abortion (NBC News, 2022). Others face life-threatening complications that doctors in restrictive states may hesitate to treat out of fear of legal consequences.
Imagine being a doctor in a state like Alabama or Louisiana, where even discussing abortion options with a patient could land you in legal trouble. Do you provide the best medical advice, or do you withhold life-saving information to protect yourself? No one should have to make that choice.
This is More Than Just a Legal Issue—It’s a Human Rights Crisis!
The battle over abortion bans isn’t just about politics or legal technicalities. It’s about real people, real lives, and real suffering. Doctors are being put in handcuffs for doing what they were trained to do—care for their patients. Women are being denied control over their own bodies. And all of this is happening in a country that prides itself on freedom.
This is why I wrote Tortured Justice Alabama. The book shines a light on these injustices, taking readers deep into the legal and emotional turmoil faced by doctors and patients alike. If you want to understand what’s at stake in the fight for reproductive rights, you need to read this book. Let’s stand together, raise awareness, and fight back. Get your copy of Tortured Justice Alabama today and join the conversation.