Wondering about abortion access in the state of Texas after the Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe v. Wade? It can get confusing to understand what is and isn’t allowed when it comes to abortion in Texas. Here are the facts.
What Is Roe v. Wade?
The 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling by the Supreme Court determined that abortion was protected in the U.S. Constitution. The main argument was that this was included in the “right to privacy” clause in the U.S. Constitution, therefore abortion became a federally-protected right.
How Did Roe v. Wade Being Overturned Affect Abortion Access?
The recent Dobbs vs. Jackson case argument was struck down because it was decided that it lacked credibility and could not be proven.
Abortion is no longer federally protected by the U.S. Constitution and the authority to protect or restrict abortion access is now given over to the states.
Abortion Laws in Texas
Abortion is currently banned in 14 states, and states continue to pass similar legislation. Previously, Texas had a 6-week ban on abortion because around 6 weeks after conception, the fetus develops a heartbeat.
After the overturning of Roe, all abortions are banned in the state of Texas 30 days after the court ruling. This restricts abortion access even more since it is not allowed even before a heartbeat can be detected. The only exception is in cases of life endangerment.
How Will This Affect Healthcare?
The abortion restrictions worry many women. Some are worried these new laws will affect access to essential healthcare, including treatment for stillbirths, high-risk pregnancies, or ectopic pregnancies, but there are no new laws that exclude women from receiving the treatment they need.
If you haven’t already, confirm your pregnancy with free pregnancy testing and an ultrasound at our center today. Our staff would be happy to talk to you about any questions you have regarding your rights and how this might affect your pregnancy and your health.
