Texas Medical Association says hospitals are refusing to treat women with pregnancy complications
The non-profit organization wrote that it has received complaints alleging hospital...
The non-profit organization wrote that it has received complaints alleging hospital administrators have sided against providing care to women with ectopic pregnancies for fear of running afoul of state laws.
Dan Carson, Chron
July 15, 2022Updated: July 15, 2022 12:17 p.m.
STOCK IMAGE Patient talking to doctor on medical appointment.
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The Texas Medical Association (TMA) is raising the alarm on what they believe to be a growing number of cases in the state in which healthcare professionals are siding against providing care for women with severe pregnancy complications for fear of violating the state's abortion ban.
According to The Dallas Morning News' Allie Morris, a letter sent by members of the non-profit organization Wednesday to the Texas Medical Board claimed the association has received complaints regarding hospital administrators disallowing medical care providers from offering critical services to patients with ectopic pregnancies and other child birth complications.
The letter appeals to the board to "swiftly act to prevent any wrongful intrusion into the practice of medicine." The TMA's memo comes as healthcare providers contend with a shifting legal landscape in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's opinion overturning Roe v. Wade and the return of laws governing abortion legality to the states. Texas has a trigger law on the books that will outlaw abortion almost universally beginning 30 days after the Supreme Court issues its official judgement formally overturning Roe—which has not occurred yet.
In the meantime, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed legal actions seeking the enforcement of near-century-old state anti-abortion laws that criminalize the act of receiving or providing an abortion. Paxton's efforts have resulted in the removal of a temporary restraining order blocking state prosecutors from charging abortion recipients during the 30-day enforcement limitation period set forth under Texas' abortion trigger law. The Texas Supreme Court last Friday ruled against the block, opening up abortion providers to civil suits but not criminal charges in the interim.
Further complicating matters for providers is Texas' Heartbeat Act. Passed in September 2021, the measure bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected and allows private citizens to bring civil suits against those suspected of providing or abetting an abortion conducted after this point. The legislation, initially posed as Texas Senate Bill 8, does not allow abortions even in cases of rape or incest.
