'An Exception': Texas Allows Termination Of Complicated Pregnancies

On August 4, a judge in Texas granted a provisional exception to the state's abortion restriction, permitting women with complex pregnancies to go through the termination procedure.

This exemption safeguards doctors from legal consequences if they ascertain that the fetus is unlikely to survive beyond childbirth.

What Did The Judge Rule?

In her verdict, Travis County District Court Judge Jessica Mangrum supported the stance of women and medical professionals who filed a lawsuit against Texas concerning the abortion ban.

Judge Mangrum's ruling stated, "The Court acknowledges the ambiguity surrounding the extent to which the medical provision in Texas' abortion restrictions allows a doctor to administer abortion care in circumstances where guided by their sincere professional judgment and in collaboration with the pregnant individual, the latter faces an urgent physical medical situation."

The judge's decision said that physicians cannot face legal repercussions for exercising their 'good faith judgment' when performing abortions due to physical medical conditions, which encompass situations involving potential infection risks or threats to the safety of the pregnancy. This includes cases where the fetus is not expected to survive beyond birth and instances where a medical ailment cannot be adequately managed throughout pregnancy or necessitates frequent and extensive medical intervention.

The injunction is effective immediately. The judge set a trial date of March 25.

Abortion Laws In Texas

Regarded as one of the most stringent in the United States, the Texas law prohibits all abortions except in cases of severe medical emergencies.

Violating this prohibition could result in a fine of $100,000 and a potential life sentence in prison.

This legislation was introduced in 2022, coming shortly after the Supreme Court overturned the long-standing 'Roe v Wade' ruling that had been in place for half a century. This overturning effectively stripped millions of women across the nation of their constitutional entitlement to access abortion services.

Suggested Reading: Poland Abortion Scandal Causes Public Outcry: 5 Things To Know