Nearly 50 years ago, a pregnant single woman, “Jane Roe” filed a lawsuit against Henry Wade, the district attorney of Dallas County, Texas, challenging the constitutionality of the Texas criminal abortion law making abortion illegal except by a doctor’s orders to save a woman’s life. This landmark case resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court finding it is a fundamental right of women to choose whether to have children and that this right is protected by the U.S. Constitution.
On September 1, 2021, Texas again made history with the passing of Senate Bill 8 (SB8), a highly restrictive law that essentially bans abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy and gives private citizens permission and significant financial incentives to violate these women, their privacy, and their personal autonomy. It is perhaps more disturbing that our Supreme Court failed to take any action to prevent this law from going into effect.
I believe SB8 is an unconstitutional and dangerous attack on the practice of medicine in our country, an assault on our patients and their support systems. This law creates a pathway for courts to weaponize against the very people they are constitutionally required to protect, and violates the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship. The ripple effect of this legislation will be devastating to women in Texas and likely other states who may follow, and will undoubtedly result in wholly preventable death and disability in the patients it targets.
As physicians and health leaders committed to improving the health of our communities, we have a duty and commitment to support basic human rights regarding access to all medical services. As health educators and community health stewards, we also have a responsibility to advocate and provide the evidence-based care and services that our patients seek, particularly for those who lack access to resources or are otherwise vulnerable and already face impossible barriers to equitable care including abortion access for all. As informed citizens, we have a duty to call out and work to eliminate laws that disadvantage our fellow people.
I encourage you to let your voices be heard. Together with the American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and other health leaders, we must urge our government to stand up for health justice.
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