An Indian-American obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Nisha Verma, garnered national attention during a contentious US Senate hearing on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Testifying before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which was examining the safety and regulation of chemical abortion drugs, Dr. Verma faced repeated questioning from Republican Senator Josh Hawley regarding whether men can get pregnant. Dr. Verma, who appeared as a Democratic witness, initially hesitated and then responded by stating that she treats "people with many identities" and takes care of "people that don't identify as women." She suggested that such binary questions are often used as "political tools" rather than genuine scientific inquiries, aiming to reduce the complexity of patient realities. Senator Hawley, however, pressed for a direct "yes" or "no" answer, insisting that the goal was to establish a "biological reality" and that "it is women who get pregnant, not men." He questioned her veracity as a medical professional for not providing a definitive response. The exchange quickly went viral across social media, igniting broader discussions on reproductive rights, gender identity, and the role of science versus politics in healthcare policy. Dr. Verma, a senior adviser to Physicians for Reproductive Health, had initially testified on the safety and efficacy of medication abortion, citing extensive peer-reviewed studies. This event highlights ongoing national divisions in the United States regarding abortion access and evolving understandings of gender in medical contexts.