Source: The New York Times
By Lisa Lerer | October 20, 2026
A recent New York Times investigation examines how Idaho’s near-total abortion ban has affected access to women’s healthcare across the state. Through interviews with physicians, patients, and healthcare officials, reporter Lisa Lerer documents a growing shortage of obstetricians and the challenges facing doctors who continue to practice in Idaho.
According to research cited in the article, more than one-third of Idaho’s OB-GYNs have stopped practicing obstetrics, relocated, closed their practices, or retired since the state’s abortion ban took effect in August 2022. By December 2025, just 170 obstetricians remained to serve approximately one million Idaho women. Half of Idaho’s 44 counties had no practicing obstetrician, and three rural hospitals had closed their labor and delivery departments because of staffing shortages.
The consequences extend beyond abortion services. Women increasingly travel long distances for routine maternity care, high-risk pregnancies, and emergency treatment. In some areas, patients face months-long waits for gynecological appointments and procedures.
The investigation follows physicians in Moscow and the Boise area who describe the difficult circumstances they encounter when treating pregnancy complications and miscarriages. Some doctors report that uncertainty surrounding Idaho’s abortion restrictions has complicated medical decisions, increased legal concerns, and made recruiting new specialists more difficult.
One particularly troubling case involved a woman whose fetus had died during pregnancy. Because the preferred surgical treatment was unavailable locally and one of the medications commonly used for miscarriage management could not be obtained, she endured an extended hospitalization before completing the miscarriage.
The article also describes the emotional and professional strain on physicians who remain in Idaho. Some are managing larger patient loads, working with fewer specialists, and worrying about whether their hospitals will have the resources needed during serious obstetric emergencies.
The investigation was published as Idaho voters prepared to consider Proposition 1, a ballot measure concerning abortion restrictions. While the measure could change state law, the article raises a broader question: How quickly can a state rebuild its medical workforce after losing experienced specialists?
The New York Times report offers an extensive examination of the effects of Idaho’s abortion law on patients, healthcare providers, and communities throughout the state.
Read the complete investigation:
When Idaho Banned Abortion, OB-GYNs Fled. The Doctors Who Stayed Are Cracking. — The New York Times
This is an independently written summary of reporting published by The New York Times on October 20, 2026. For the complete reporting, interviews, photographs, and additional context, please visit the original article.