Amanda Zurawski is leading a lawsuit against Texas, along with 20 other plaintiffs, including Cristina Nuñez, who argue that the state’s restrictive abortion laws endangered their lives during complicated pregnancies. The lawsuit alleges that the exception for when a patient’s life is in danger is too narrow and vague, resulting in delayed care and suffering for pregnant individuals. After a dramatic July hearing, a district court judge agreed with the plaintiffs, but the state immediately appealed her ruling directly to the Texas Supreme Court, allowing the three overlapping abortion bans to remain in effect.
Cristina Nuñez, a plaintiff in the case, was diagnosed with diabetes, end-stage renal disease, and other health conditions, and her doctors had advised her not to get pregnant. However, when she unexpectedly became pregnant, her health quickly deteriorated, and she was unable to access an abortion in Texas, causing her health to decline further. Eventually, after finding a pro-bono attorney, she was able to receive the abortion she needed. Other new plaintiffs, such as Kristen Anaya, also faced life-threatening situations due to Texas’s abortion laws, further highlighting the need for change in the state’s legislation. The Texas Supreme Court is set to consider the Center’s request for a temporary injunction that would allow abortions in a wider range of medical situations, with a hearing scheduled for Nov. 28. The outcome of this case and potential changes to Texas’s abortion laws have significant implications for reproductive rights and access to healthcare in the state.
