Watch: Why aren’t ectopic pregnancies viable?

Ectopic pregnancies can only be treated by termination, but care for this life-threatening pregnancy complication has become more fraught after Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Following the fall of Roe v. Wade, many clinicians have become fearful and uncertain about how they are allowed to treat pregnant people with potentially life-threatening complications. These include ectopic pregnancies, which can only be treated by termination. Ectopic pregnancies are not viable, but as STAT’s Olivia Goldhill reports, some providers are cautious about immediately providing treatment in states that have passed laws that criminalized abortion, as they can risk losing their license or face jail time if they disobey the law.

Watch the video above to learn about why ectopic pregnancies will never progress to birth, and what could happen if treatment is delayed.