Texas state is facing lawsuits against the government-regulated abortion law. Five women taking over Texas legally, alleging that the law complicated their fertility by putting their fetuses at risk.
The Center for Reproductive Rights advocates the nonprofit rights representing women along with the OB-GYNs for the lawsuit filed on Monday.
Texas has seen this kind of lawsuit against the abortion law for the first time since the restriction from the US Supreme Court reversed the right of Roe v. Wade against the abortion law last summer.
The Texas law restricts abortions without any emergency situation; however, the plaintiffs are seeking the definition of the risk factors attached to the restrictions as the medical practitioners (even if the conditions are severe) avoid legal ramifications in the future against them.
The criminal charges for the provide abortion lead to 99 years of prison with a hefty monetary penalty involving 6 figures.
“The Supreme Court’s unwarranted reversal of Roe v. Wade has resulted in a health care crisis in states across the nation, including here in the state of Texas,” said Nancy Northup, CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights. “It is now dangerous to be pregnant in Texas. … No one should be forced to wait until they are at death’s door to receive health care.”
In the press conference, all five women describe their stories of how the abortion law has made them go through trauma and put their lives and their fetuses’ lives in danger.
Supporters of the abortion law argue in the lawsuit affirming that the law intervenes to protect the lives of the mother;
“Texas’ pro-life policies already plainly allow doctors to intervene if the life of the mother is in jeopardy or if her condition may lead to the loss of a major bodily function,” said Kimberlyn Schwartz, director of media and communication for anti-abortion nonprofit Texas Right to Life.
They added;
“The threat can be foreseeable and doctors therefore may act within their reasonable medical judgment as soon as the danger is identified,” Schwartz said in a statement to the Statesman on Tuesday. “Pro-life policies do not require physicians to delay necessary care until the danger is imminent in order to treat a mother. Doctors in these cases misunderstood the law or were misled by pervasive, inaccurate, and irresponsible reporting from the media.”
Texas attorney general spokesperson made the statement in the response to the lawsuit, saying
“Attorney General Paxton is committed to doing everything in his power to protect mothers, families, and unborn children, and he will continue to defend and enforce the laws duly enacted by the Texas Legislature.” On the other hand, House Spokesperson, Dade Phelan avoided making any comment on the case.
