Eight women are joining the lawsuit The Center of Reproductive Rights is filing against the State of Texas over the recent abortion ban. So far 15 women are part of the lawsuit. The women claim their lives were put in danger because of the controversial legislation. Several of the women were unable to access necessary and critical care, even though their pregnancies were not viable because current abortion laws in Texas prevent physicians from providing life-saving care, Good Morning America reported.
Many reasons exist why a woman may need or choose to have an abortion, and there are many situations in which receiving one or not could be life-saving or life-threatening. Abortion can be medically necessary in cases of ectopic pregnancy, cancer, preeclampsia, severe kidney disease, pulmonary hypertension, and lethal fetal anomalies, according to Everyday Health.
“It’s the patients themselves who should balance the two scales with the medical risk on one side and their desire to be pregnant on the other,” maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. David Hackney said, per Everyday Health.
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These women say they were denied potentially life-saving care.
All of the plaintiffs faced extenuating circumstances and were denied medical intervention and assistance because of the abortion laws Texas has in place. Kiersten Hogan and Elizabeth Weller both had their water break prematurely but were told they had to postpone care to be "sick enough" to receive abortion care, a draft of the suit showed, per Good Morning America.
Hogan delivered her son stillborn after four days in the hospital. "I was told that if I tried to discharge myself or seek care elsewhere, that I could be arrested for trying to kill my child. I wanted this baby, so of course I stayed. When I needed to use the bathroom, I was accompanied and watched and made sure that I didn't push," she said.
Weller was forced to wait for an abortion until she had a serious infection, even though almost all of the amniotic fluid leaked out and the pregnancy was no longer viable, a draft of the lawsuit reads.
Two other plaintiffs, Kylie Beaton and Samantha Casiano, reportedly said they were forced to carry nonviable pregnancies to term, the news outlet reported.
Several doctors and physicians are joining the lawsuit as well.
One of the plaintiffs is an obstetrician who had to travel out of state to receive abortion care for a nonviable pregnancy. Dr. Austin Dennard is pregnant again and concerned for her health and safety as a pregnant woman in Texas, a draft of the suit asserts, per Good Morning America.
Dennard, along with several other plaintiffs including Jessica Bernardo, Taylor Edwards, and Lauren Vleet, received serious and fatal diagnoses and had to travel out of state to receive the abortion care they needed, the news program reported.
Traveling in their conditions was a huge risk to their health and safety, but doctors were forced to deny them the care they needed because of the abortion laws in place that do not clearly define "medical emergencies," leaving hospitals and doctors open to liability.
Many abortions are considered medically necessary.
In addition to abortions being performed in situations such as an ectopic pregnancy and nonviable pregnancies, not having access to safe abortion care is one of five leading causes of maternal mortality that is preventable, according to Doctors without Borders. Individuals are not the only ones raising alarm and concerns over how the Texas abortion ban is affecting women’s health and safety.
The Texas Medical Association wrote the Texas Medical Board with concerns over patients who were denied medications to treat ectopic pregnancies. The association noted, “Delayed or prevented care in this scenario creates a substantial risk for the patient’s future reproductive ability and poses serious risk to the patient’s immediate physical wellbeing,” per Center For American Progress.
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Social media users were outraged at what these women have gone through as a result of the abortion bans.
Reddit users responding to an ABC news article shared on the platform were outraged.
One reader commented, “Good! Sorry they went thru those experiences but it shouldn’t have to be this way. It’s no one’s business outside the woman and doctor. So I absolutely hope they win.”
“I dont see how any female will willingly move to these anti abortion states. Girls will make decisions where to go to university based on this," another reader wrote. "And health professionals will think twice about taking jobs in those states. There’s a ton more drugs that are not good for a fetus than just the usual abortion drugs. Including drugs men take.”
“Texas republicans have created a dystopia in their state," one comment reads. "They have taken away the healthcare of women and girls and are creating a culture of fear and intimidation. Glad to see these women are fighting back.”
“Texas Article 6701d 'A person who in good faith administers emergency care at the scene of an emergency or in a hospital is not liable in civil damages for an act performed during the emergency unless the act is willfully or wantonly negligent.' Aaand fight!” someone pointed out.
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