Women Denied Abortion Care in Texas Share Emotional Testimonies in Court Hearing

AUSTIN, Texas – On Wednesday, a group of women suing Texas for clarity on exceptions to the state’s strict abortion laws gave emotional testimony about the life-threatening risks they endured when they say they were denied care during their failed pregnancies.

At the Travis County Civil and Family Courthouse, the women shared their gripping and emotional experiences of being denied abortion care. The lawsuit, which was brought by the Center for Reproductive Rights, is believed to be the first to be brought by women who were denied abortions after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year.

The women are not trying to overturn the state’s abortion ban, but rather, are seeking a preliminary injunction on the state’s abortion laws to allow lifesaving care for women in the state. Amanda Zurawski and Samantha Casiano, two of the women involved in the lawsuit, spoke about the impact of Texas’ abortion law at the hearing.

“I was denied the care I needed and was forced to carry a pregnancy to term that was not viable,” Zurawski said. “I was told that I would have to wait until I was in labor to receive any medical care. I was terrified that I would die.”

Casiano, who was also denied an abortion, said she was “forced to carry a pregnancy to term that was not viable and was told that I would have to wait until I was in labor to receive any medical care.”

The hearing comes more than 50 years after the seed of nationwide abortion access was planted in Texas. The case is ongoing and a ruling is expected soon.