A federal judge temporarily struck down Texas’ near-total ban on abortions Wednesday.
Less than 24 hours after a federal judge temporarily blocked Texas’ ban on abortion following six weeks of pregnancy Wednesday evening, healthcare provider Whole Woman’s Health began offering abortions to Texas patients who were previously denied care. “In this climate, every single abortion we can provide is a win,” Whole Woman’s Health tweeted Thursday afternoon. Texas’ law bans abortions in non-emergency situations if a provider detects fetal cardiac activity, which typically takes place around six weeks into a pregnancy, before many people realize they’re pregnant. The law also puts enforcement in the hands of private citizens instead of government officials, by allowing anybody to sue an individual who “aids or abets” an abortion and collect at least $10,000 in damages if they’re successful.
