In the past several years we have heard the phrase “the cruelty is the point” more times than we can count. And yet it’s what immediately came to mind when Amanda Zurawski shared that the state of Texas recently argued that she doesn’t have standing in Zurawski v. State of Texas, where she is the lead plaintiff against the state of Texas.
Let’s take a step back and explain. Following the loss of her pregnancy in 2022 Amanda shared her story, detailing how the Texas abortion ban left her doctors unable to provide care during the loss of her pregnancy. She was told to wait until she became “sick enough” to treat, which she eventually did when she went septic twice, and almost died in the ICU. Her experience and lack of treatment left permanent damage.
Amanda later became the lead plaintiff in a case challenging the exemptions in the Texas abortion ban. What Amanda’s story highlights is how exemptions don’t work, which means women are denied the life-saving care they need during pregnancy or the loss of a pregnancy because of abortion bans.
After losing the initial case, the state of Texas is arguing in their appeal that Amanda, among other plaintiffs, does not have standing in the case because she most likely won’t be able to get pregnant again, therefore they say an abortion ban won’t apply to her. Just to be clear, the damage to her reproductive health was caused by the lack of treatment due to the Texas abortion ban. But the state of Texas doesn’t care about the harm done to women and their health.
There is absolutely no humanity in denying women healthcare, especially when it could save their lives and their chances to become pregnant again. The cruelty shown by the state of Texas is unimaginable. Thank you to Amanda and her co-plaintiffs for shedding light on this cruelty, and standing up for all women.
You can hear more of our interview with Amanda on this week’s podcast.
Please consider sharing this story to help shed light on the inhumanity behind so many of these extreme abortion bans.
Abortion Bans are Cruel