Abortion law in Texas causing confusion among doctors

A recent survey of OB/GYNs in the state shows that doctors are concerned and confused by Texas' abortion ban. 76 percent of doctors surveyed say they feel like they can't practice medicine according to best practices and evidence-based medicine, and 60 percent of those who responded fear legal repercussions.

Dr. Damla Karsan, an ON/GYN with Comprehensive Women's Healthcare in Houston, said the guidelines are not clear.

"The question is how sick does a woman have to be, how close to death does she have to be to be confident that the state will deem that the intervention was warranted? There's just really no clarity around this," she said. "It's a very murky area."

Texas adopted the "heartbeat bill" in 2021 that bans abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. The legislation makes exceptions for a life-threatening physical condition, or a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function.

Those in the medical field say they're concerned the abortion law will create a shortage of OB/GYNs in the state. Many of those surveyed say they're considering retiring early or leaving Texas because of the legislation and 57 percent of resident physicians say the abortion law is relevant to their decision about staying in the state after residency. The law will negatively impact low income and rural patients, Karsan said.

"We already have one of the highest maternal mortality rates, and we have some staggering numbers of counties in the state of Texas that don't even have an OB/GYN, and so that's going to get worse. And as usually happens it's those individuals that have the least access to care, are going to be hurt the most," she continued.

Karsan has been involved in two legal challenges to the abortion ban, including the case of Kate Cox.

The Houston mother of two received national attention after traveling to another state to obtain an abortion after it was determined her third child would not survive, prompting one message from Karsan for Texas lawmakers.

"Abortion is healthcare and healthcare decisions are complicated, and those decisions really should be left to individuals who have years and years of training to be able to navigate this space. And, this is not political; this is medical," she argued.

Texas News Service