Congressional candidate says Arkansas' abortion law endangers her life

Driving the news: "The doctor's response was, 'You should be OK [to have the procedure],'" Draper said — a gray area in which she's not comfortable resting her life.

State of play: Arkansas law currently bans abortion in all cases except to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency.

• There are no exceptions for rape or incest.
• Yes, but: The law carves out acts to save the life or preserve the health of an unborn child, removal of a dead unborn child and removal of an ectopic pregnancy by not defining them as an abortion.

Doctors performing an abortion could be fined up to $100,000, face 10 years in prison or both.

Context: Draper and her husband started in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments about three years ago, she told Axios.

• An IVF visit on March 25 showed she was pregnant, but blood tests taken Monday showed her human chorionic gonadotropin levels weren't adequate.

What she's saying: Draper decided to speak publicly about her personal situation to draw attention to women's health care issues and how state law impacts those who want children.

• "I'm resourced; I'm married; I have insurance," Draper said Tuesday to a group in Eureka Springs.
• "I can travel to another state, but there are women that can't. So it feels horrible to live in a state where your life is at risk all the time. And I'm just desperately trying to have a baby."

What's next: If she doesn't miscarry by Friday, she'll return to her doctor and they'll make a plan, Draper said.