Two Texas women have filed complaints against hospitals that denied them abortions for ectopic pregnancies, leading to serious medical complications. Ectopic pregnancies are a leading cause of maternal mortality during the first trimester and need to be terminated to save the life of the mother. Texas law allows for the termination of ectopic pregnancies, but the women were repeatedly turned away for treatment.
The complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ask for an investigation into two hospitals for violating the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. The complaints argue that abortion bans in Texas have created confusion and fear among doctors, making it difficult for them to provide necessary care without risking severe penalties.
One of the women, Kyleigh Thurman, had to undergo emergency surgery to remove her right fallopian tube after being repeatedly denied treatment at Ascension Seton Williamson in Round Rock. Another woman, Kelsie Norris-De La Cruz, had to seek treatment at multiple hospitals before she got the necessary surgery to remove most of her right fallopian tube.
The complaints highlight the challenges faced by women seeking emergency abortions in a state with strict abortion laws and the impact of these laws on patient care. The Biden administration’s guidance on emergency abortions under the EMTALA has been blocked in Texas, raising questions about how hospitals should provide care in such emergency situations. The incidents illustrate the need for clarity and enforcement of laws to ensure that women can access necessary care during medical emergencies such as ectopic pregnancies.
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