Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the first major Texas elected official to back changes to the state's abortion law, suggests amending the language to address doctor concerns about potential penalties when the mother's life is at risk. The near-total ban, in effect since 2022, prohibits abortions except when the pregnant person's life is in danger. Some doctors have raised concerns about the law's ambiguity regarding the severity of illness required for an abortion.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Sunday said the Legislature should amend the language of the state’s near-total abortion ban to address confusion over when doctors may terminate pregnancies. “I do think we need to clarify any language so that doctors are not in fear of being penalized if they think the life of the mother is at risk,” Patrick said on the WFAA program “Inside Texas Politics .
” Patrick is the first major state elected official to offer support for changing the state’s abortion law in this legislative session. The Texas abortion ban went into effect in 2022 and prohibits abortions in all circumstances except when the life of the pregnant person is at risk. Some doctors have said the law is unclear, however, as to how ill a pregnant person has to be to qualify for an abortion. Punishments for violating the abortion statute includeto state leaders urging them to reform the law, which they said as written “threatens physicians with life imprisonment and loss of licensure for doing what is often medically necessary for the patient’s health and future fertility.” The letter cited two recent investigations by ProPublica of pregnant women in Texas who died after doctors delayed treating their miscarriages, which can conflict with the abortion law, which prohibits doctors from ending the heartbeat of a fetus. More than a dozen medical experts consulted by the news organization concluded that the deaths ofthat the Texas Health and Safety Code clearly defines when a pregnant patient is ill enough to qualify for an abortion. Hughes said doctors had performed 119 abortions in life-saving situations since the law took effect. Patrick’s comment is not the first time Republican members of the Senate have suggested tweaking the law. Sen. Bob Nichols of JacksonvilleHow much of a priority this is for Patrick, who as president of the Senate wields tremendous power of the body, remains to be seen. He made no mention of reforming the state’s abortion laws in 78 interim priorities he sent to Senate committees inIndependent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount?
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