The name of Nisha Verma, an Indian-origin obstetrician and gynaecologist based in the United States, has been widely discussed online following a heated exchange during a US Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labour and Pension) Committee hearing on the safety of abortion pills. Appearing as a Democratic witness, Verma was questioned by Republican Senator Josh Hawley, who repeatedly asked whether men can get pregnant. Rather than offering a direct response, Verma questioned the intent behind the query, describing it as polarising and expressing uncertainty about its purpose. This led to a brief but tense back-and-forth, with Hawley insisting that he was merely attempting to establish what he called a biological reality.
Verma’s measured but non-committal response quickly became a focal point of the hearing, drawing sharp reactions across social media and political circles. Supporters argued that her response reflected concern over the framing of the question in a politically charged environment, while critics accused her of avoiding a straightforward answer. The moment underscored how debates around reproductive rights and gender issues remain deeply contentious in US politics.
A Reproductive Health Adviser and a senior figure associated with Physicians for Reproductive Health, Verma was born into an Indian immigrant family in North Carolina. She completed her medical education at the University of North Carolina and went on to qualify as a board-certified obstetrician-gynaecologist, with additional specialisation in complex family planning. Her academic background also includes degrees in Biology, Anthropology and Public Health, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach to medicine and policy.
Currently, Verma serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Emory University School of Medicine and provides clinical care to patients in Georgia and Maryland. Alongside her clinical work, she has been actively involved in research and advocacy related to reproductive healthcare, particularly focusing on abortion access and the medical consequences of restrictive laws.
Over the years, Verma has testified before Congress on the impact of abortion restrictions and is presently leading a research project examining the effects of Georgia’s six-week abortion ban on individuals with high-risk pregnancies. She has also travelled extensively across the US to train physicians in evidence-based communication around abortion care, aiming to equip healthcare providers with tools to navigate difficult conversations with patients and institutions.
In addition, Verma has worked closely with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to support doctors facing regulatory and institutional challenges linked to reproductive health services. Her professional work places her at the intersection of medicine, public health policy and advocacy, a position that has increasingly drawn national attention amid the ongoing US debate over abortion rights.
