IntroductionSarah McCammon (2021) writes in “Doctors say the Texas abortion ban is complicatingother types of medical decisions” that many physicians and patients are having trouble makingmedical decisions following pregnancy complication amidst the passing of SB 8, a new Texasstate law banning abortions after cardiac activity is detectable, with the exceptions for ‘medicalemergencies’. The article reports that patients who have pregnancy complications or diagnosessuch as anencephaly or a miscarriage are given the option to terminate since a nonviablepregnancy poses health concerns to the pregnant person, however, the new law complicatesmedical decisions. Not only can these circumstances pose health risks, it can also causeemotional trauma if the patient is denied the right to terminate or expediate a miscarriage. Inaddition, the phrase ‘medical emergency’ has been left vague and unclear. Physicians run intothe ethical decision to recommend what’s best for the patient’s health despite the risk for legaltrouble or following the new state law. McCammon reports that many physicians express fear oflegal suits for offering terminations and issues of patients seeking out of state abortions also posepotential legal problems/civil suits in addition to cost factors (McCammon, 2021).This article brings up new dilemmas and ethical violations in health care as newlegislation infringes upon reproductive health rights. People should have the right to autonomy,and reproductive rights are a part of this. However, the passing of SB 8 and other restricting lawslike it impose control not only on the choice for abortion but also access to women’s healthfacilities and reproductive options as a whole.Other ExamplesAbortion in America did not become illegal until the 1860s, and prior to this, if a womanwanted an abortion, there were no legal, social, or religious forces that would have stopped her.
