Medical Residents Shun States with Strict Abortion Laws, Affecting Healthcare Access

A significant decline in applications to residency programs in states with abortion bans raises concerns about future healthcare provision.

For the second consecutive year, fewer U.S. medical school graduates are applying for residencies in states with restrictive abortion laws, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
The trend is more pronounced in specialties that deal directly with pregnancy, such as obstetrics and gynecology, where applications dropped by 6.7% in states with strict bans.
Experts warn that the declining number of medical residents in these states could exacerbate existing healthcare provider shortages, particularly in rural areas.
Some medical students express reluctance to train in states with abortion bans, citing a desire for comprehensive reproductive health training and concerns about personal and professional implications.
Despite the drop in applications, residency programs in states with abortion bans are still filling positions due to the overall number of medical graduates exceeding available slots.