What The Texas Abortion Ban Does — And What It Means For Other States

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Thousands of protesters demonstrate outside the Texas capitol in Austin in response to a bill that outlaws abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected on May 29.





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The U.S. and Texas state flags fly over the state Capitol building in Austin. A new law went into effect in Texas this week that bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. That’s well before many women even know they are pregnant.





Sergio Flores/Getty Images



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Sergio Flores/Getty Images




The U.S. and Texas state flags fly over the state Capitol building in Austin. A new law went into effect in Texas this week that bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. That’s well before many women even know they are pregnant.


Sergio Flores/Getty Images


What does the law mean for patients and abortion providers?


Dr. Bhavik Kumar, a family medicine doctor who works for Planned Parenthood in Houston, says it’s creating a lot of uncertainty for patients and providers. But Kumar insists he will comply with the law.

The ban, though, will likely mean a lot of questions from patients about how they can get an abortion outside of Texas, Kumar said.

«I know that there are many people who don’t have to ability to make it out of state …The logistics and ability to do so is not an option for them, he said. «So I’m really concerned about what’s going to happen to people.

Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, an OB/GYN, told NPR over the weekend that patients are apprehensive.They understand that the abortion that they’re having this week, last week, the week before, is something that they wouldn’t be able to have next week. They’ve been asking about it and asking, you know, if I were here in September, would I be able to get this?


What does this mean for abortion laws in other states?


If the federal courts ultimately allow this law to stand, it’s very likely that other conservative states will move to pass similar laws. Seago, with Texas Right to Life, said his organization is working with activists in multiple states who are eager to replicate this model if it succeeds in blocking access to most abortions in Texas.

«It is still a bit untested. We’re still working on what these lawsuits are going to look like if the industry decides to break the law, Seago said. «So it is a new model that we’re still testing out.


What happens next?


Multiple court challenges to the law are underway, including several lawsuits in state court in Texas targeting anti-abortion rights groups including Texas Right to Life. Abortion rights groups are also organizing protests and demonstrations in Texas in opposition to the law.

A spokeswoman for Texas Right to Life told NPR no lawsuits against abortion providers are imminent, and abortion providers say they will comply with the law as long as it is in effect.