Overview

• Kate Cox, a Texas woman, was denied an abortion despite her fetus having a fatal condition and her own health and future fertility being at risk. This case has drawn attention to the restrictive and vague abortion laws in Texas.
• Texas has three separate laws designed to make getting an abortion nearly impossible, creating one of the most restrictive environments in the country for reproductive rights.
• Texas went from reporting more than 50,000 abortions in 2020 to only 34 recorded through September of 2023, indicating the impact of the restrictive laws.
• Legal experts argue that the vague wording of the laws is causing dangerous confusion over emergency medical exceptions, putting patients at risk and leaving medical providers with their hands tied.
• Data suggests that hundreds, if not thousands, of Texans have faced similar struggles to Cox this year, indicating a significant unmet need for medically necessary abortions in the state.