Obstetrician doctor doing health checkup for pregnant woman with large pregnancy and gynecology consultation. (Photo credit: BELL KA PANG / Shutterstock)
A 35-year-old pregnant mother in Tennessee reportedly became the first known case in the state of someone being refused prenatal care by a physician because she was unmarried. Nashville Banner reported Sunday, citing the woman, that the refusal was based on the doctor’s objection to her marital status.
According to the report, the woman, who has been with her partner for 15 years and is already mother to a 13‑year‑old, shared her story at a town hall in Jonesborough, Tennessee, on Thursday.
Under Tennessee’s newly enacted Medical Ethics Defense Act, which took effect in April, physicians and healthcare providers are legally permitted to refuse treatment on the basis of “religious, moral or ethical beliefs.”
The woman further said that at around four weeks pregnant, her OB‑GYN reviewed her medical history but then stated they were unwilling to treat her because she wasn’t married and that this conflicted with the physician’s values. The woman was advised to seek care elsewhere.
During the town hall, she also revealed frustration with her elected officials’ lack of responsiveness.
She claimed repeated calls to Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) went unanswered, and staffers from Sen. Bill Hagerty’s (R-Tenn.) office told her, “he’s not obligated to listen to his constituents."
Critics argue the Medical Ethics Defense Act jeopardizes access to essential services, including reproductive care, HIV prevention, and gender-affirming treatments — especially in rural areas where provider options are already limited. Medical professionals warn the law undermines the Hippocratic Oath and fosters distrust by allowing personal beliefs to take precedence over patient well‑being.