Posted on 09/18/2021 7:08:44 PM PDT by American Number 181269513
A Texas doctor has revealed that he recently performed an abortion in violation of the state's new controversial law that prohibits nearly all abortions after roughly six weeks into a pregnancy, arguing that he “had a duty of care to this patient.”
Alan Braid, a San Antonio-based physician, wrote in an op-ed published by The Washington Post Saturday that on Sept. 6, just five days after the Texas abortion ban went into effect, that he “provided an abortion to a woman who, though still in her first trimester, was beyond the state’s new limit.”
Braid, who began his obstetrics and gynecology residency at a San Antonio hospital in 1972, said that during the year before abortion was recognized as a constitutional right in the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, he saw “three teenagers die from illegal abortions.”
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision earlier this month not to block Texas’ new abortion law, Braid wrote, “For me, it is 1972 all over again.”
The doctor said that he had been a practicing OB/GYN for more than four decades, "conducting Pap smears, pelvic exams and pregnancy check-ups; delivering more than 10,000 babies; and providing abortion care at clinics I opened in Houston and San Antonio, and another in Oklahoma.”
He went on to say that the new Texas law, known as S.B. 8, “shut down about 80 percent of the abortion services we provide.”
The so-called “fetal heartbeat” law in Texas bans all abortions after cardiac activity is detected, which can occur as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, before many people know they are pregnant.
While the law provides exceptions in medical emergencies, it does not for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, and also allows virtually any private citizen to file a lawsuit against a person who has performed or aided in the performance of an abortion procedure.
Individuals who take legal action have the opportunity to win $10,000 for successful lawsuits.
Braid wrote Saturday that while he “fully understood that there could be legal consequences” for his decision, he “wanted to make sure that Texas didn’t get away with its bid to prevent this blatantly unconstitutional law from being tested.”
The doctor, who noted that his clinics are among the plaintiffs represented by the Center for Reproductive Rights in the federal lawsuit aimed at stopping the Texas abortion ban, added that he believes “abortion is an essential part of health care.”
“I have spent the past 50 years treating and helping patients,” he continued. “I can’t just sit back and watch us return to 1972.”
The Biden administration has already committed to fighting the Texas law, with the Department of Justice filing a motion this week requesting either a preliminary injunction or a temporary restraining order that would prevent the ban from going into effect.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said Friday that it would be taking action to protect patients and abortion providers in Texas, including by giving up to $10 million in grants for clinics who have seen an increase in demand following the implementation of the law.
Texas passes a law in a country where nobody obeys the law anymore.
Is he getting arrested?
It’s okay, as long as you violate the right laws. /s
It’s harsh, but a doctor that performs an abortion should be charged with murder.
Along with the former mother.
In Michigan during all the lockdowns Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who was a long time promoter of abortion without limits, specified no medical procedures, no operations or surgery, no non emergency hospital contact, no dentistry, travel except to a doctor’s visit or drug store for an Rx and so on. Strictly enforced. Necessary food purchases but no restaurants. Cars could be checked to make sure no exceptions were made.
Exceptions only for marijuana stores, liquor stores (because abrupt cutoff for alcoholics causes violence!) and for abortion places (”for women’s health” and declared “essential.”)
How is a woman’s “health” enhanced and improved by killing an unborn baby?
And what about the baby’s health as he or she is now being killed by an abortion?
Something is very wrong here.
Is he getting his license revoked?
Barbers had their operating licenses revoked for violating COVID-19 restrictions.
Restaurants had their liquor licenses revoked for violating COVID-19 restrictions.
Gyms had their business licenses revoked for violating COVID-19 restrictions.
Is it because it was abortion that the "protester" is "courageous" and "speaking truth to power" and won't have the laws applied to them?
-PJ
Gen. Milley: What's the big deal? I only obey laws about following the President's orders if I like the President giving them. If I say we nuke some country then we nuke some country. No matter what the White House tells me.
I can’t help but wonder if this doctor would say ‘I had a duty of care’ if an unvaccinated COVID patient showed up in his office?
> ‘I had a duty of care’ <
More like a “duty” to kill innocents.
The successors to Dr. Mengele walk among us.
The POS is a baby killer.
^^ this right here. I’ll piss on Tiller’s grave if I ever get the chance.
So doctor, are you providing HCQ or ivermectin to Covid patients that request one or the other as treatment early on? I mean it’s your duty to care for all patients right?
Sounds like Virginia. :(
Life was cheapened when it became legal to kill babies...
I believe that it lead to where we are today... the entire planet sentenced to suffer the effects of a bio-weapon created by Godless people with no respect for life at all.
How is this “care”?
And BTW, shouldn’t abortions have been halted everywhere because of OMG COVID, since it is 99.99% elective?
Caring cultist.
Why would he? Per Texas law (as I've come to understand, please correct me if I'm wrong), it's now a civil matter. Has anyone filed a civil lawsuit against him? The article doesn't say.
Easiest thing to do is like you said is to revoke his license to practice medicine. Other doctors in Texas will get the message.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.