TX Abortion Ban Linked To Spike In Newborn Deaths

June 24, 2024 Christianists, Republicans

 

NBC News reports:

A Texas law that banned abortions in early pregnancy is associated with a stark increase in infant and newborn deaths, a study published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics found.

Lawmakers passed Texas Senate Bill 8, or SB8, in September 2021. The state law banned abortions as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as five weeks. This effectively banned abortion in the state, which used to allow abortion up to 22 weeks of pregnancy.

The law did not include exemptions for congenital anomalies, including conditions that will cause a newborn to die soon after birth. Infant deaths in Texas rose by nearly 13% the year after SB8 was passed, from 1,985 in 2021 to 2,240 in 2022. During that same period, infant deaths rose by about 2% nationwide.

USA Today reports:

 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office did not dispute the study’s findings but defended the Republican-controlled state’s anti-abortion record. This effort included the 2021 heartbeat law “to save the innocent unborn, and now thousands of children have been given a chance at life,” Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for Abbott, said in a statement to USA TODAY.

He said the governor has taken “significant action to protect the sanctity of life” and offered resources to expectant mothers “so they can choose life for their child.”

Anti-abortion advocates also didn’t contest the uptick in infant deaths cited in the study. Advocates for the heartbeat law and other legislation to restrict abortions say such bans protect life. They say terminating a fetus with a terminal illness is “choosing to kill that child intentionally.” However, the overwhelming majority of such abortions happen before the fetus is viable.

New: Infant deaths rose after Texas’ 2021 heartbeat law restricted abortions before the SCOTUS Dobbs decision two years ago, per a JAMA Pediatrics study published today out of @JohnsHopkinsSPH. Texas anti-abortion activists don’t dispute the findings. https://t.co/xeNpxrNk1n

— Eduardo Cuevas (@eduardomcuevas) June 24, 2024

It is not, and never has been, about “protecting human life.” As always, it is about controlling the bodies and lives of others.

Elagabalus  Gregory In Seattle19 hours ago

Which is why they’re not going after men getting vasectomies.

Dave B19 hours ago

 

Elagabalus  Dave B19 hours ago edited

Brilliant! This reinforces my assertion that pro-lifers prioritize fetal life above all life on earth. From a theological perspective, they need to be continually challenged on that but never are.

RoverSerton 19 hours ago

so, those parents that were sure the baby wouldn’t live had to go thru childbirth and watch it die. Pro live my ass, pro suffering.

Prost-😈XXX😈19 hours ago

Lost in all of this is the grief the parents have to endure by bringing the fetus to term.

Elagabalus20 hours ago

Ah, the real fruits of “pro-life” theology are being revealed. Turns out, pro-life actually means pro-death. Who knew?

danolgb19 hours ago

The media isn’t helping:

The state law banned abortions as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as five weeks.

It’s not a heart beat. There’s no heart to beat at that time. Is some cells that start flagellating.

JIM W 20 hours ago

The religious right Republicans don’t give a hoot about the child/infant. It’s all about control. Once the birth has occurred, they quickly forget about the individual. Republicans seek to stop benefits for the poor, provide little to no education unless it is religion based, Let’s not forget about the abundance of guns that can whip out whole classrooms of children and the death penalty. Need I say more?