The state of Texas is taking additional measures regarding abortion. In accordance with CNBC Newsthe state asked a federal court to block the Biden administration’s requirement that doctors and hospitals provide abortions in emergency situations. Reports indicate that in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that federal law does not provide a right to abortion.
The lawsuit comes days after Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra wrote a letter to health care providers on Monday. In the letter, he explained that under federal law, doctors must perform emergency abortions and face fines if they refuse to offer the procedure in such cases.
Xavier warned hospitals and doctors that they have an obligation to perform emergency abortions when medical treatment is necessary to protect the life of a pregnant woman. Some of these emergencies include but are not limited to; ectopic pregnancy, complications from miscarriages and hypertensive diseases such as pre-eclampsia. If you’re not familiar, preeclampsia causes high blood pressure, severe headaches, and blurred vision. If left untreated, it can lead to fatal complications.
However, Attorney General Paxton said the law does not provide for any special treatment. He claims the HHS requirement is illegal, unconstitutional and unenforceable. In a press release from his office, he said: “With this move, the Biden administration aims to convert every emergency room in the country into an abortion clinic.”
The release continued, “EMTALA does not allow, and has never been considered to allow, the federal government to require emergency medical providers to perform abortions.” President Biden is doing everything he can to protect women. He recently issued an executive order directing HHS to take steps to protect access to abortion.
Currently, at least nine states have banned abortions because of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Several other states have tried to ban the procedure, but their laws have been blocked by state courts.
Neighbors, what do you think about this lawsuit?
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/14/texas-sues-biden-administration-over-abortion-rule.html
