Editor-in-Chief
A
Texas judge determined House Bill 2, one of the most restrictive abortion bills
in the country, to be unconstitutional Monday. The bill, passed in July, would
ban abortions taking place after 20 weeks of pregnancy and would restrict
doctors from prescribing certain abortion medications to women, including the
drug RU486. District Judge Lee Yeakel claims certain aspects of the bill
prevented doctors from making key decisions
that they may feel would be best for their patients, saying, "The
admitting-privileges provision of House Bill 2 does not bear a rational
relationship to the legitimate right of the state in preserving and promoting
fetal life or a woman's health and, in any event, places a substantial obstacle
in the path of a woman seeking an abortion of a nonviable fetus and is thus an
undue burden to her."
Cecile
Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America stated, "Today's ruling marks an important victory for Texas
women and sends a clear message to lawmakers: it is unconstitutional for
politicians to pass laws that take personal, private decisions away from women
and their doctors."
It may appear to be a major victory for the pro-choice movement,
however, many women’s rights groups believe the judge did not do enough to stop
the bill, saying that doctors should be allowed to prescribe abortion
medication with little restrictions.
Many
Texas officials have said Judge Lee’s decision is to be appealed at the 5th
Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.
Texas
governor Rick Perry claims the crusade against abortion rights is not over,
saying, “Today’s decision will not stop our ongoing efforts to protect life and
ensure the women of our state aren't exposed to any more of the abortion-mill
horror stories that have made headlines recently. We will continue fighting to
implement the laws passed by the duly-elected officials of our state, laws that
reflect the will and values of Texans.”
