When a pregnant woman’s doctor has asserted she needs an abortion to save her life and preserve her ability to bear children in the future, that should be enough for any court in this country. No judge in any court should be able to overrule a doctor’s professional opinion in a health care case. Not unless the judges have medical degrees. Apparently those judges in Texas think they are thus empowered.
The woman in question, Kate Cox, is now 21 weeks pregnant and, having exhausted her legal options in Texas, has left the state to get the care she needs elsewhere. I wish her all the best.
Shame on Texas for denying her the care her doctor said was necessary. The court even threatened to file charges against her doctor if he performed the abortion. I don’t know where she went, but I know my state, Colorado, was one of those that offered her the care she needs. She and any other woman who needs such care is welcome here. The sad reality, however, is that many women simply cannot afford to make the trip.
Honestly I don’t know what’s become of this country in the last few years. (But I have a few ideas.) When any individual’s ego, political position, religious belief, personal opinion, or moral compass can threaten the very life of a total stranger — against the opinion of that person’s physician or otherwise — something is terribly, terribly wrong. What happened to personal choice, autonomy, privacy, medical confidentiality?
I can’t vote in Texas, but you can bet that next November, every mark on my Colorado ballot will be directed toward redressing wrongs like this.
(AP has more on this case.)
Right on, sister !
On this topic I am immovable.
yes!
Now and always. My body, my decision.
When Texas leaders talk “religious freedom”, they mean the freedom to force their religion down everyone else’s throat.
“‘When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.’
‘The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.”
‘The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master—that’s all.'”
And suddenly I’m reminded of Nixon’s statement: “Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.” And apparently when a court does it, that means it is not immoral or inhumane or cruel or an invasion of privacy …
This is so cruel, and I can’t help but feel there is some hatred here of women, or a need to control women. I hope women in Texas will oust the bastards.
Three of the nine Texas Supreme Court justices are women, but I suppose all nine must vote to uphold Texas law. It seems those justices are elected in statewide elections, so yes, the female voters need to step up. What I’ll never understand is any woman voting against another woman’s right to whatever health care she needs. Those women who oppose abortion can just choose not to have one. That’s why it’s called pro-choice. Even if they oppose it on religious grounds, that does not entitle them to impose their religion on others.
As a political minority member of the Texas population, I am recommending that every potential Texas juror avail themselves of the information provided by the Fully Informed Jurors Association (FIJA). Every juror needs to know that they as an individual have more power than the entire Texas Legislature, the entire membership of the Texas Supreme Court… all they have to do is say “Not. Guilty.” Period. Full Stop.
It should never get to court. Charges should never be brought. The “crime” should not exist. Not in Texas. Not anywhere. And voters must vote against anyone who thinks it should.
Apparently there are plenty of people in Texas who were happy to vote those judges into office so that an onerous law could be upheld. I’m sure they would happily vote “guilty” if any women are brought into court for having violated that law.
The good thing about a single fully informed juror is that one person can overcome the will of 11 morons.
I suppose there’s a chance that 1 in 12 could eventually prevail in Texas. Unfortunately it does sound as though the general voting pool is a lost cause (present company excepted, of course).
I know where you’re coming from, but I can honestly say that none of the elected in Texas got any help from me.
Oh, I’m sure of that. Never doubted it. Just wish there were more like you.
Absolutely.
This is the kind of thing anti-Choicers assured me wouldn’t happen.
Then they were flat out lying (or inexcusably ignorant). Laws and courts are the only way they have to enforce their beliefs.