Zurawski V. Texas: Abortion Exceptions As The New Legal Battleground For Women’s Lives
Health Affairs June 27, 2024
The US Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) that there is no constitutional right to an abortion. This decision has radically changed the landscape of abortion access in the United States. Twenty-one states “ban or heavily restrict abortion access” today. One of those states is Texas, where abortions may only be performed when the pregnant individual is experiencing a medical emergency. However, this so-called “exception” is nearly impossible to apply, especially when a physician risks up to 99 years in prison, exorbitant fines, and the possible revocation of their medical license if they provide abortion care that is not compliant with the ban. Thus, many women are denied medically necessary abortion care, resulting in near-death...