AUSTIN, Texas — The chair of Texas’ maternal mortality review committee addressed concerns about a new appointment to its body Tuesday. The Department of State Health Services appointed a well-known anti-abortion doctor, Dr. Ingrid Skop, to the group following a legislative mandate which eliminated the community advocate position.

What You Need To Know

  • Concerns arose this week with the appointment of an anti-abortion doctor to Texas' maternal mortality review committee

  • The chair of the committee addressed those concerns, stating that the group doesn't take part in political discourse 

  • Some say the appointee's views are anathema to bringing about the changes needed to save lives

  • Others said the doctor's experience may result in the committee pursuing alternate solutions 

“I’ll be representing rural women because I’ve cared for many of them who’ve traveled into San Antonio from maternity care desserts,” said Skop.

The committee chair says they welcome different points of view, adding that the group doesn’t partake in political discourse.

“Our review process is based on science, evidence when available, best practice and application of an accepted standard of care when there’s an absence of evidence,” said committee chair Dr. Carla Ortique.

Only one public commenter expressed concern about having a doctor with a vocal stance on abortion join the committee.

“A physician known for her pro-life advocacy has taken a seat on the commission. Partisanship, the politics of abortion and institutional rigidity, are an anathema to bringing the changes that must happen to save lives,” said Dinah Waranch, a midwife.

A new dashboard from the Department of state Health Services shows Texas saw a decline in the number of infant deaths from 2017 to 2021, but in the year that followed there was a drastic increase in infant deaths.

“The non-Hispanic Black population rate is in orange and shows that the rate is much higher and has been over time. There has been slight decreases but still much higher than other races in Texas,” said Dr. Jennifer Shuford, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Service.

Maternal health experts say having the data publicly available and easy to understand can be used to help reverse the trends. One solution from reproductive rights advocates is accessible abortion.

“It seems the committee is both imprisoned by its insider perspective and at the mercy of cruel political forces,” said Waranch.

Anti-abortion advocates say Skop’s experience could help the committee come to other conclusions.

“Some people might object to her pro-life activism, but we don’t disqualify people from committees because of their political beliefs. I’m unaware of not allowing people from Planned Parenthood to serve on committees and that sort of thing,” said Kyleen Wright with Texans for Life.

The Texas Medical Board is scheduled to meet Friday to discuss possible clarifications to the qualifying reason for a medical abortion. Dr. Skop has publicly testified that she welcomes the clarification.