A Texas woman, facing a legal battle over her pregnancy, is planning to leave the state to seek an abortion, her attorneys announced. Upon returning, she intends to share her experiences with US lawmakers.
Under Texas' near-total abortion ban, most procedures are prohibited after six weeks, except in cases of potential life-threatening situations for the mother. This has led many pregnant women, including minors, to leave the state in search of abortion services, with an estimated 2,800 Texans traveling out of state each month in 2023 and 105 minors doing so, including six under-11 years old.
Public opinion in Texas favors adding exceptions to the ban for issues like rape and incest, with a recent poll revealing 83% support.
The legal landscape is complex, with ongoing debates about clarifying the law to protect the medical community and pregnant women. Some have proposed criminalizing self-induced abortions, which could potentially extend murder statutes to individuals terminating their own pregnancies.
This trend, however, has provoked widespread backlash, with medical professionals calling for clarity to avoid legal consequences for doctors and legal challenges to the restrictive policy.
Sources: [1] Edition.cnn.com [2] Texas Tribune [3] Washington Post [4] University of Texas / Texas Politics Project [5] HuffPost
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