In response to the increase of illegal abortion drug trafficking into Texas, legislation has been filed in the Texas House of Representatives holding abortion pill manufacturers and distributors accountable for wrongful deaths of women and children.

Although the lives of many women and children continue to be lost to illegal chemical abortions, out-of-state abortionists are currently not held liable under state law.

However, providers of illegal chemical abortions would be subject to punishment under House Bill 4876, the Wrongful Death Protection Act.

Filed by State Rep. Cole Hefner (R–Mount Pleasant), this measure removes legal immunity from out-of-state chemical abortion providers and manufacturers in the case of a wrongful death of a patient, be it either a pregnant mother or her unborn child.

“We are grateful Rep. Hefner is leading this strong measure. And hope the Legislature will continue its legacy of commitment to women and children by passing it. Human lives are lost every day we wait for this protection,” said Chelsey Youman, Texas state director and national policy advisor for the Human Coalition Action.

After Texas’ trigger law went into full effect last year, some women began searching for ways to end their pregnancies. One of the easiest ways to do so was through illegally trafficked abortion drugs.

Out-of-state and out-of-country chemical abortion providers were eager to push their drugs in Texas.

Telehealth marketers and doctors have continually failed to inform women of the risks of performing a chemical abortion. A new analysis reveals 35 percent of women who take an abortion pill end up in the emergency room within 30 days.

In states where abortion is illegal, when a woman’s illegal chemical abortion goes wrong, they are encouraged to go to the hospital immediately but to lie to the healthcare workers about the situation.

“We have enacted transformative pro-life laws in Texas, but more must be done,” explained Hefner. “The deadly abortion pill regimen is everywhere, including in our state. Companies and smuggling networks are profiting from the barbaric death of children in the womb and neglecting the women who are harmed by taking these pills.

Hefner continued, “I was elected to serve the people of this state and uphold public safety and human dignity, and today I am proud to introduce this bill to hold abortion pill traffickers accountable for the wrongful deaths of children in the womb and their mothers. They must not be allowed to escape their direct responsibility for the wrongful deaths of Texans simply because they reside outside our state, and this legislation ensures that will not be allowed to happen.”

As of publication, the Wrongful Death Protection Act has not yet been referred to a committee.

Soli Rice

A journalist for Texas Scorecard, Soli is a new Texan with a passion for politics. She's excited to hone her writing skills and help spread truth to Texans.

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