Lawyers for doctors and women who sued the state argued that the vague language of the ban could harm pregnant patients.
Lawyers for women and doctors suing the state had argued the ban’s vague language risks harming female patients. Lawyers for women and doctors suing the state had argued the ban’s ambiguous language risks harming female patients.
Lawyers for doctors and women who sued the state argued that the vague language of the ban could harm pregnant patients.
Die Kommission ist befugt, gemäß Artikel 264 delegierte Rechtsakte für bestimmte Zwecke zu erlassen. The Texas Medical Board rejected requests to clarify specific exceptions to a strict abortion ban in the state, which doctors argue is unclear and has resulted in women with serious pregnancy complications having to travel out of state. The board’s chairman also stated that issues like the absence of exceptions for rape or incest were not within the panel’s authority to address, with the majority of members being male. There is only one board member who is an obstetrician and gynecologist. Dr. Sherif Zaafran, the president of the board, expressed that there are limitations to what can be done. The public meeting brought more disappointment and frustration to opponents who have been pushing for clarity on exceptions to the state’s ban from courts and Texas lawmakers for almost two years. In December, Kate Cox, a mother of two from Dallas, filed a lawsuit against the state in order to receive permission for an abortion when her fetus was diagnosed with a fatal condition and she sought help at multiple emergency rooms. Cox ended up traveling out of state for the procedure before the Texas Supreme Court, composed of nine elected Republican justices, decided that she had not proven that her life was at risk. The court requested the state medical board to provide further guidance. Zaafran noted that the board can interpret the law to some extent, but rewriting it is the responsibility of the Legislature. He and his fellow board members were selected by the Republican Governor. In 2021, Greg Abbott signed the ban. The guidelines proposed by the board for exceptions to Texas’ abortion ban advise doctors to carefully document their decision-making process in cases where a woman’s life or major bodily function is at risk, but do not provide many specific details.
