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Transcript/ScriptUS – Texas Abortion
HEADLINE: Texas Supreme Court Hears Abortion Challenge
TEASER: Doctors and patients want greater clarity over medical exemptions
PUBLISHED AT: 11/30/2023 AT 5:40PM
BYLINE: Deana Mitchell
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: AUSTIN, TEXAS
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR: Deana Mitchell
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Stearns
SCRIPT EDITORS: Stearns, Steve Hirsch
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Supreme Court of Texas, YouTube, AP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:23
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TV/R
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[The Texas Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a case over narrow medical exceptions in the state’s near-total ban on abortion. Deana Mitchell has our story from the Texas capital, Austin.]]
((NARRATOR))
((Mandatory CG: Supreme Court of Texas)) ((YouTube logo))
The Texas Supreme Court heard arguments in a case brought by 20 women
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who say they were denied medically justified abortions because Texas law does not make sufficiently clear when medical exemptions to the near-total abortion ban are allowed.
Texas law permits abortions only when a doctor uses “reasonable medical judgment” to determine the pregnant woman is at “risk of death or substantial impairment.”
((Mandatory CG: Supreme Court of Texas)) ((YouTube logo))
Arguing for the women, attorney Molly Duane told justices that “reasonable” judgment is open to interpretation and doctors need more clarity.
((Molly Duane, Center for Reproductive Rights Senior Attorney)) Mandatory CG: Supreme Court of Texas)) ((YouTube logo))
“While there is technically a medical exception to the ban, no one knows what it means, and the state won’t tell us.”
((NARRATOR))
((Mandatory CG: Supreme Court of Texas)) ((YouTube logo))
Arguing for the state, Assistant Attorney General Beth Klusmann said the law is clear, and if women feel their care was inadequate they should hold their doctors accountable.
((Beth Klusmann, Texas Assistant Attorney General))
((Mandatory CG: Supreme Court of Texas)) ((YouTube logo))
“Some of these women appear to have fallen within these exceptions but their doctors still said no. That’s not the fault of the law.”
((NARRATOR))
Texas doctors found guilty of performing illegal abortions face the loss of their license and up to 99 years in prison. Dallas obstetrician Austin Dennard says many doctors are afraid to even talk to their patients about abortion.
((Austin Dennard, Obstetrician))
“There's just such an enormous amount of fear that something bad could happen to us. Just simply having honest conversations with our patients that really should be between the two of us and nobody else's business. I don't feel protected at all as a physician in Texas.”
((NARRATOR))
Plaintiff Lauren Miller is Dennard’s patient.
((Lauren Miller, plaintiff)
“She has gotten me through two pregnancies, one of which was clearly horribly traumatic. And she is standing here right beside me. That is a good doctor. That is not the person I should be suing here. I place the blame firmly at the feet of the state.”
((NARRATOR))
The state questioned plaintiffs’ legal standing to bring the suit as none are currently seeking abortions. Assistant Attorney General Klusmann defended the law’s protections for the unborn.
((Beth Klusmann, Texas Assistant Attorney General))
((Mandatory CG: Supreme Court of Texas)) ((YouTube logo))
“What the Legislature has done is chosen to value unborn life and prohibit abortion in all circumstances, unless that life is going to conflict with the life of the mother. The Legislature has set the bar high, but there is nothing unconstitutional in their decision to do so.”
((NARRATOR))
This is the highest-level legal challenge to state abortion limits that were enacted following the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning a constitutional right to abortion in June of last year.
((Deana Mitchell, VOA News, Austin, Texas))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Austin, Texas
Embargo DateNovember 30, 2023 20:51 EST
Byline
Deana Mitchell, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
