A Texas judge has ruled that a pregnant woman who took legal action against the state to secure an abortion can indeed proceed with terminating her pregnancy, CNN reported.
The decision, issued on Thursday (local time), stands out as a crucial development in the ongoing discourse surrounding the state’s stringent ban on abortions post-six weeks, recognised as one of the most restrictive nationwide.
Kate Cox, currently at 20 weeks of pregnancy, initiated a lawsuit this week in an Austin state district court, seeking a temporary injunction against the state’s abortion ban. She cited concerns about violating the law and explained that her baby, diagnosed with trisomy 18, is not expected to survive beyond a few days outside the womb.
Following the judge’s decision, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton cautioned Cox’s physician about potential civil and criminal consequences if the court-ordered procedure were to be performed.
Cox’s legal pursuit is thought to be among the initial attempts nationwide by an individual seeking a court-mandated abortion post the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v Wade last year, as reported by the New York Times.
The 31-year-old Cox, facing severe cramping and unexplained fluid leaks, had sought emergency medical attention in three different hospitals in the past month. Her lawsuit highlighted the elevated risks due to her previous caesarean surgeries, emphasising potential complications like uterine rupture and hysterectomy if the pregnancy continued.
In an emergency hearing held on Thursday, the judge granted a temporary restraining order against the state, enabling Cox to promptly undergo an abortion.
