A doctor in Texas claimed Saturday that he has purposely violated the state’s recent abortion law in order to test if it is legal.
Alan Braid, who is an obstetrician-gynecologist in SanAntonio, had an essay explaining his actions published by The Washington Post.
Braid notes that he understands there “could be legal consequences”, and says “I wanted to make sure that Texas didn’t get away with its bid to prevent this blatantly unconstitutional law from being tested”.
I understand that by providing an abortion beyond the new legal limit, I am taking a personal risk, but it’s something I believe in strongly.
Alan Braid
The abortion bill, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, has been in effect since September 1. Many are hoping the Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade.
In his essay, Braid says “For me, it is 1972 all over again”. He explains that women who could afford to travel to states like New York and California could have the procedure done. He claims the new law returns Texas to that state.
He also mentions having to watch three teenagers die from illegal abortions as an OB-GYN resident in the emergency room at San Antonio Hospital.
Five days after the law went into effect, Braid says he performed an abortion for a woman in the first trimester of her pregnancy.
“I acted because I had a duty of care to this patient, as I do for all patients, and because she has a fundamental right to receive this care”, he explains.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Justice asked a Texas federal judge to temporarily block the new abortion law. The DOJ also sued Texas, claiming the law was used to “prevent women from exercising their constitutional rights”.