Episode 50

Therapeutic Abortion Explained: Heartbeat Laws, Genetic Testing, and Hard Decisions

Episode Description

In this conversation, Kate talks to Shannon Wieloch about the complexities surrounding therapeutic abortions, particularly in the context of heartbeat laws and genetic counseling. They explore the emotional and medical implications of these decisions, the role of genetic testing, and the impact of legislation on patient care. Shannon shares her experiences working with patients facing difficult choices in wanted pregnancies, emphasizing the need for compassion and understanding in these situations.

Keywords: abortion, therapeutic abortion, heartbeat laws, genetic counseling, patient care, emotional support, healthcare legislation, prenatal care, reproductive rights

Key Takeaways:

The emotional weight of decisions surrounding pregnancy choices is profound.
Heartbeat laws often prioritize legal definitions over medical realities.
Genetic testing can provide crucial information but is not always necessary.
Patients often face significant emotional and financial burdens when seeking care.
Legislation can complicate access to necessary medical procedures.
Many patients feel isolated in their experiences of making pregnancy decisions.

Guest Bio: Shannon M. Wieloch, MS, CGC, is a board-certified genetic counselor with more than 24 years of clinical and industry experience across reproductive, prenatal, infertility, and genomic medicine. She currently serves as Director of Genetic Counseling at Fairfax Cryobank and is the founder of Stork Genetics, LLC, where she provides patient-centered genetic counseling.

Shannon has served in senior clinical, product, and program management roles at Genome Medical, Mayo Clinic, CooperGenomics, and major academic medical centers. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed and professional publications, blog posts, and educational resources, and has regularly contributed to national conferences, podcasts, and professional committees within the National Society of Genetic Counselors.

Here are more resources related to today’s topic:

Links to Shannon’s pages:
“What You Need to Know About ‘Fetal Heartbeat’ Bills” by Madison Feller, Elle, published May 7, 2019
“Doctors’ organization: calling abortion bans ‘fetal heartbeat bills’ is misleading” from The Guardian
Center for Reproductive Rights
National Network of Abortion Funds

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