When Faith Is Used to Deny Medical Care: A Kentucky Medical Student Speaks Out

By Carlie Cryer, Kentucky medical student

Article originally posted in Lexington Herald Leader

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression.” — Isaiah 1:17

As someone whose faith helped guide me toward medicine, I believe compassion and care for others should be at the center of healthcare. But today in Kentucky, abortion bans are creating fear and confusion that can delay critical medical care for pregnant patients.

Scripture is often cited in debates about abortion. Yet the Bible does not explicitly address abortion, and religious beliefs vary widely. In a state with many faith traditions, no single interpretation should determine the medical care another person can receive.

As a future physician, I worry about what these laws mean for the patients I will serve. Doctors across Kentucky report hesitation and delays because of laws carrying criminal penalties. These are not political talking points — they are real barriers affecting real patients and the physicians trying to care for them.

One physician I admire said it best:

“You cannot have healthy babies without healthy mothers.”

Protecting the ability of physicians to provide timely, evidence-based care does not conflict with faith. It reflects the core values many faith traditions share: compassion, mercy, and protecting those who are suffering.

Faith Voices for Compassionate Care

Faith leaders in Kentucky support abortion access and protecting patient-doctor decision-making.

Watch this message from Anna Bowden: Associate Professor of New Testament