In a move that has sparked concerns among reproductive justice advocates, a prominent anti-abortion activist has been appointed to a Texas health committee tasked with reviewing maternal deaths. The appointment of Dr. Ingrid Skop, a vocal opponent of abortion, has raised questions about the committee's ability to impartially assess the impact of the state's strict abortion ban on maternal mortality.

Reproductive health equity advocates argue that Skop's appointment undermines the committee's ability to accurately examine the consequences of the law on deaths during and after pregnancy. Kamyon Conner, the executive director of the Texas Equal Access Fund, expressed concern, stating, "It is another sign that the state is more interested in furthering their anti-abortion agenda than protecting the lives of pregnant Texans."

Dr. Skop, a San Antonio-based obstetrician-gynecologist, has long been associated with anti-abortion organizations and has consistently voiced her views against abortion. She serves as the vice-president and director of medical affairs for the national anti-abortion research group, Charlotte Lozier Institute, and is a member of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Skop's controversial stance on abortion has drawn attention. She is currently a plaintiff in a US Supreme Court lawsuit seeking to revoke the FDA's approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, despite years of evidence showing its safety. Furthermore, several research papers authored by Skop were retracted due to misleading errors.

The appointment of Skop, who has argued in favor of forcing rape and incest victims as young as nine or 10 to carry pregnancies to term, has raised significant concerns. Experts highlight the health risks associated with pregnancies at such a young age, including pre-eclampsia and infections.

Texas, known for having one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the United States, has seen instances where pregnant women were denied emergency abortions despite life-threatening complications. Skop has placed the blame on individual physicians' judgment rather than the restrictive abortion laws themselves.

Contrary to the opinions of many experts, Skop believes that abortion bans not only do not lead to an increase in maternal deaths but may actually reduce those rates. This viewpoint has been criticized as "fallacious" by those advocating for reproductive rights.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has raised serious concerns about Skop's appointment due to her biased views, stating that committee members should be informed by "data, not ideology." ACOG believes that bias against abortion has led to compromised analysis and dangerously flawed data, citing the retraction of research papers co-authored by Skop.

The Texas maternal mortality and review committee, consisting of 23 members, was established in 2013 to address the state's maternal healthcare crisis. The committee's latest report indicated that 90% of maternal deaths in Texas were likely preventable. Currently, the committee is reviewing pregnancy-related deaths in 2020 and plans to examine the impact of state abortion laws on maternal health in the future.

Nakeenya Wilson, a community advocate who previously sat on the committee and represented the voices of black women disproportionately affected by maternal mortality rates, expressed disappointment at the elimination of her role. Wilson applied for a different position on the committee but was not selected.

The appointment of Dr. Skop, as well as the removal of a community advocate, has sparked criticism and raised questions about the committee's commitment to unbiased analysis of maternal mortality data. As Dr. Skop's controversial views on abortion come into focus, many worry about the potential implications for maternal health in Texas.