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An abortion was not something I ever imagined I would want or need; I just never thought I’d be in the situation I’m in right now. Twenty weeks pregnant with a baby that won’t survive and could jeopardize my health and a future pregnancy. (Kate Cox, 12/6)

Imagine you’ve fallen ill. There’s fever and pain, and it doesn’t go away. A trip to the doctor’s office lands you in the emergency room. Surgery follows, then several nights in the hospital. Weeks later, after more doctor’s appointments and loads of prescription medicine, you’re all well again, fit as a fiddle. And then they let you go on your merry way, without paying a penny. That’s right: $0. (Adam Westbrook, 12/7)

It should go without saying that putting a concrete plant across a street from a hospital is a terrible idea. Plants like these aren’t just bad for the environment, but they release pollutants into the air that pose serious health risks like heart disease, lung cancer, and lower-respiratory tract infections. (Christian Menefee and Borris Miles, 12/6)

Many families take for granted the ritual of taking a newborn baby home, car seat and curated swaddle blankets in tow, just a few days after delivery. But as critical care pediatricians, we care for babies and children who often don’t fit neatly into these universal experiences. When our patients go home for the first time, they are rarely newborns. They can be as old as 2, having spent all their lives in the hospital after being born months early, or with devastating disease that has made them dependent on life-sustaining technologies. (Anjali Garg and Amanda Ruth, 12/7)