Texas ruling on abortion removes certain provisions in the current law

A federal judge ruled on Monday to get rid of main provisions to the current abortion law in Texas, giving abortion rights supporters something to celebrate. One of the main provisions removed by U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel, was the requirement of physicians performing abortions in the state to be near a hospital where they have admitting abilities. In rural parts of the state, this stipulation was especially troublesome. “That was a victory for our patients, a victory for women in Texas, and a victory for women’s health,” said Erin Ferrero, a spokesman for Planned Parenthood for America.

However, Judge Yeakel did decide to keep certain restrictions in place, including the requirement that physicians use particular guidelines for nonsurgical abortions. Opponents of the law say that these guidelines are outdated, expensive and potentially quite harmful. Louise Melling, deputy legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union commented in statement: “We are disappointed by the ruling on the medication abortion restriction, which ignores accepted medical practice and will force providers to use less safe methods. But we will continue to fight and explore every option to protect women’s health.”

Amy Miller, president of Whole Women’s Health, also told the Associated Press that it would have been better for Yeakel to offer a decision barring the provision. “Nearly 40 percent of the women we serve at Whole Woman’s Health choose medication abortion and now Texas is preventing these women from the advances in medical practice that other women across the United States will be able to access,” she said.

Despite the historic decision, an appeal is pending, and could political leaders in the state have also voiced a desire to make abortion entirely illegal.