Texas Must Protect Mothers: Clarify Abortion Laws Now
Texas’ near-total abortion ban is costing lives, and elected officials must act. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has called for the Legislature to clarify the law’s language to protect doctors and ensure that mothers at risk can receive life-saving care. On WFAA’s Inside Texas Politics, Patrick stated, “We need to clarify any language so that doctors are not in fear of being penalized if they think the life of the mother is at risk.”
Texas’ current ban, enacted in 2022, allows abortion only when the pregnant person’s life is at risk, but its vagueness has left doctors hesitant to act. The law threatens them with life imprisonment or steep fines for performing procedures critical to saving lives. This fear has already led to tragedy: two women, Josseli Barnica, 28, and Nevaeh Crain, 18, died after doctors delayed treating their miscarriages due to confusion over the law. Experts agree these deaths were preventable.
Patrick’s support for reform is a step forward, but he has not prioritized the issue, despite holding immense influence in the Senate. Texans deserve better. It’s time for lawmakers to protect mothers, provide clarity, and ensure no more lives are lost due to political inaction.
