Since 2022, critical medical care for pregnant women in Texas has been denied or delayed. Lack of clarity regarding when doctors can intervene and the harsh criminal and civil charges doctors face (including life in prison) for any perceived misjudgment are creating a crisis in women’s healthcare.
The Consequences
- Endangering mothers with pregnancy complications
- Denying critical care
- Driving OB-GYNs out of Texas
- Dissuading medical students, residents, and practicing doctors from coming to Texas
In the 2025 Legislative Session, we are advocating to:
1
Ensure
“Life of the Mother” exemption effectively serves Texas mothers, safeguarding fertility and health without undue risk to women
2
Enable
Women and their families to make informed decisions in cases of lethal fetal abnormalities, rape and incest3
Remove
Threat of criminal repercussions for medical professionals providing essential care to women with pregnancy complications
4
Protect
Continued safety and legality of in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures
The Data
- 8% of all pregnancies involve complications that, if left untreated, may harm the mother or the baby.
- 1 in 333 pregnant women receive a fetal fatal abnormality diagnosis and face the heartbreaking reality that their child will not live past birth.
Current Texas law forces a woman to carry a nonviable fetus to term.
There were 255 additional infant deaths in Texas from 2021 to 2022, a staggering 13% increase in infant mortality (vs. 1.8% for the rest of the US).
Deaths due to birth defects rose by 23% in Texas from 2021 to 2022, while the rest of the US saw a 3% decline.
- Of ~450 Texas OB-GYNs surveyed on the impact of state reproductive health laws:
- 76% believe they cannot practice according to evidence-based medicine.
- 60% fear legal repercussions from practicing evidence-based medicine.
- 21% have thought about or are planning to leave Texas to practice in another state.
- 13% are planning to retire early.
- 10% have already left Texas or are leaving their obstetrics practice or medicine altogether.
- In the 2023-2024 application cycle, Texas saw a 16% decrease in applications to OB-GYN residency programs and a 12% decrease across all specialties vs 0.4% increase / 0.6% decrease, respectively, across states where abortion remains legal.
- The state cannot afford to lose quality medical providers as 47% of Texas counties are already maternal care deserts and 60% of rural hospitals do not provide obstetric care due in part to a lack of physicians.
- Since these laws went into effect, Texas’ maternal death rate has increased 56% vs. an average 11% increase in other states.
- Texas ranks as the second worst-performing state in women’s health and reproductive care and has the highest number of maternal deaths nationwide.
- As 20% of women consider OB-GYNs to be their primary care providers, without enough OB-GYNs, women will be forced to forgo early detection and treatment of health issues, including cancer screenings.
- Of 600+ Texas republican primary voters surveyed in Sept. 2024, 75% support modifications to:
- Add exceptions for rape, incest, and fatal fetal abnormalities.
- Remove severe penalties for medical professionals.
66% of “top talent” (adults ages 18-64 with a college degree who are working full-time or looking for full-time work) says the Texas abortion ban would discourage them from working in the state.
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Texas Campaign for Mothers
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