Additional Coverage:
- Doctors told a woman they couldn’t treat her miscarriage because it was a ‘crime.’ She died 72 hours later (newsbreak.com)
Tragic Death Highlights Texas Abortion Ban’s Dangers
A Texas woman, Josseli Barnica, died after being denied timely treatment for a miscarriage due to the state’s abortion ban. Despite suffering from a life-threatening infection, doctors were forced to delay care until the fetus’ heartbeat was no longer detectable.
Barnica’s miscarriage was diagnosed at 17 weeks, falling into a legal gray area where doctors face penalties for performing abortions. The delay in treatment allowed the infection to worsen, leading to her death.
Experts condemned the delay as “preventable,” stating that Barnica’s life could have been saved with earlier intervention. The hospital defended its actions, citing its duty to comply with state laws.
Barnica’s case sheds light on the devastating consequences of restrictive abortion laws, which prioritize the fetus’ heartbeat over the mother’s life. Similar tragedies have occurred in Georgia, where another woman died due to delays in abortion care.
The Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade has emboldened states to enact strict abortion bans, leading to confusion and denial of care for women facing miscarriages and other medical emergencies. These laws are putting patients’ lives at risk and denying them their fundamental rights.