Dan Skinner talks with Emily Wright of River Valley Organizing and Melanie Houston of the Ohio Environmental Council about the situation in East Palestine in the wake of the Norfolk Southern train derailment. Topics include what residents are reporting; predatory entities; water, ground and air testing; and what policy changes we'll need to pursue to ensure this never happens again.

122. Disaster, Trauma, and Distrust in East Palestine, Ohio

Dan Skinner talks with State Rep. and House Assistant Minority Leader Dontavius Jarrells about his life experience shapes his work as a legislator, bills he has introduced and supported, and his health priorities in the Ohio Statehouse. Full show notes at www.prognosisohio.com/episodes/jarrells.

Subscribe/support Prognosis Ohio: prognosisohio.com

123. Rep. Dontavius Jarrells on Bringing Dignity to Ohio Communities

Dan Skinner talks with Columbus Dispatch reporters Max Filby and Jennifer Smola Shaffer about their investigative series, Preying on Patients. Topics include possible reforms for the medical board, and the role journalism plays in bringing these stories about sexual misconduct to light. Stream and show notes: www.prognosisohio.com/episodes/preying

124. Preying on Patients: Dispatch Reporters Max Filby and Jennifer Smola Shaffer

On episode 125 of Prognosis Ohio, Dan Skinner talks with obstetrician-gynecologist and State Rep. Anita Somani about abortion and reproductive rights, the impact anti-transgender legislation is poised to have on Ohio patients; and balancing life as a physician-legislator. 

Timestamps:

2:00: On being a physician and legislator 
5:30: The state budget and the stakes for social and economic policy
8:45: Abortion and reproductive health care 
14:50: The hypocrisy of bills that hurt children and children’s mental health while trumpeting support for child health
17:59: “What’s behind these bills?” 
19:56: The relationship between democratic responsiveness and health 
25:40: The wave of anti-transgender bills moving through the Statehouse: what Rep. Somani’s experience can teach us.

In the interview, Rep. Somani talks about the Heartbeat Bill and current penalties for physicians who don’t report abortions. Rep. Somani maintains, among other things,  that Ohio’s infant and maternal mortality rates have gone up in direct correlation with abortion restrictions. 

In his 2023 State of the State address Gov. DeWine identified mental health and children’s needs as a major priority. However, Rep. Somani talks about the inherent hypocrisy of the bills the Ohio General Assembly has introduced — specifically HB 6, the anti-trans sports bill, and HB 51, which loosens gun restrictions — and the impact these bills will have on students’ mental health. 

Dan asks Rep. Somani about democratic responsiveness and the current assault on voting rights, including House Joint Resolution 1, which would raise the threshold needed to pass constitutional amendments on the ballot to 60%. In response, Rep. Somani reflects on the in-state support for reproductive rights and abortion rights, as demonstrated by groups collecting 7,000 signatures when they only needed 1,000 signatures to get the language certified to be on the ballot.

Read more about Rep. Anita Somani in her bio. Check out a podcast produced by the Columbus Medical Association, in which Rep. Somani talks about her first few weeks at the Statehouse.

WCBE is currently in the midst of a fund drive. Please donate if you can! You can also support Prognosis Ohio through Patreon.

Hosted and produced by Dan Skinner. Engineering support provided by Mike Foley at WCBE. Copywriting and production support by Angela Lin. Prognosis Ohio is a member of the WCBE Podcast Experience and the Health Podcast Network. Prognosis Ohio is a production of Prognosis Ohio, LLC.

Rep. Somani on Reproductive Freedom, Gender Affirmation, and Hypocrisy in Statehouse Health Policy

Hosted by health policy professor Dan Skinner, Prognosis Ohio addresses all facets of health care, health policy, and health politics in the great state of Ohio. The podcast shines a light on a wide range of health and health care issues, from changing legislative developments; to stories of Ohioans interacting with their state's healthcare system; to ongoing challenges in housing, food, transportation, and other systems that relate to health outcomes; to research, advocacy, and activism.

Rep. Somani on Reproductive Freedom, Gender Affirmation, and Hypocrisy in Statehouse Health Policy

Prognosis Ohio

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