Daily US Times: Some abortion clinics in the US state of Texas have resumed their operations amid fears that a legal ruling which halted the state’s near-total abortion ban may be short-lived.
Other clinics in the state have reported that concerns over lawsuits have prevented them from reopening.
A US judge temporarily blocked the new abortion law in Texas, known as ‘Hearbeat Act’ on Wednesday, which effectively bans women from having an abortion.
Officials in Texas appealed against the court decision, setting the stage for further court battles in the coming months.
Whole Woman’s Health, a firm that runs four abortion clinics across Texas, said it had already resumed offering abortion care on Thursday.
The firm’s founder Amy Hagstrom Miller said there had been an immediate spike in inquiries from patients seeking abortions in the wake of the judge’s decision.
She said: “Phone call volume has increased. There’s actually hope from patients and staff. There’s a little desperation in that hope. Folks know this opportunity could be short-lived.”
Earlier this week, district Judge Robert Pittman’s 113-page ruling granted a request from the Biden administration to prevent enforcement of the law while its legality was being challenged.
This is the first legal setback since the implementation of the law – which was drafted and approved by Republican politicians.
The highly controvercial law effectively bans abortions from as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, at a time when most women will not be aware they are pregnant.
You may read: Judge temporarily blocks enforcement of controversial texas abortion law
