AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Doctors who perform life-saving abortions may soon be required to document whether they first tried to transfer the patient to another facility to avoid terminating the pregnancy, a move some say goes beyond the language of the law. Health lawyers and doctors worry this proposed requirement further disincentivizes doctors from performing medically necessary, but legally risky, abortions. “This creates even more uncertainty for doctors who were already concerned,” said Rachael Gearing, a Dallas health care lawyer who represents OB/GYN clinics. “It’s basically saying, ‘Well, you should have passed your patient off to someone else who would have held out longer and wouldn’t have done the abortion.’” Texas’ laws allow abortions to save a patient’s life, but doctors have struggled to apply that exception in practice, especially when faced with up to life in prison, fines and the loss of their medical license. |
Two teams blowing everyone else away in NASCAR Cup. Can the others catch up at Talladega?Sarah Nurse scores in OT to lift Toronto over Montreal 3Verstappen wins again. This time he takes first Formula 1 sprint race of the seasonSouth Dakota man sentenced to nearly 90 years in prison for his baby son's 2021 deathMorning sickness? Prenatal checkMideast Updates: G7 warns of sanctions on Iran for attack on IsraelCan US cities fine homeless people for sleeping outside?Mideast Updates: G7 warns of sanctions on Iran for attack on IsraelRussia pummels exhausted Ukrainian forces ahead of springtime advanceMaple Leafs, Jets, Oilers and Canucks carry Canada’s Stanley Cup hopes with drought now at 30 years