Kate Cox, a woman who asked a Texas judge for permission to end her pregnancy, is at the center of legal battles over abortion access. The podcast discusses the Texas abortion ban, the involvement of the Texas Supreme Court, the absence of precedent, and the recent Supreme Court decision on a key abortion drug.
The case of Kate Cox highlights the ongoing legal battles and challenges over abortion access in the United States.
The Texas Supreme Court's ruling in Cox's case raises questions about judicial authority in determining medical judgments and the future of legal challenges to abortion bans.
Deep dives
Legal battle over abortion
The podcast discusses the case of Kay Cox, a woman in Texas who sought an abortion due to her baby's diagnosis of trisomy 18, which has a low chance of survival. Cox faced further complications and risks due to her previous C-sections, leading her to decide to pursue an abortion. However, as Texas has strict abortion laws, her case went all the way to the state supreme court, highlighting the ongoing battle over abortion rights.
The medical emergency exception
The podcast explores the difficulty in interpreting the medical emergency exception under Texas' abortion ban. The vague definition of a medical emergency puts doctors in a challenging position to determine eligibility for an abortion. Kay Cox, with the support of the Center for Reproductive Rights, went to a judge to seek permission to get an abortion under the medical exception, becoming the first adult woman to do so since Roe v. Wade in 1973.
Texas Supreme Court ruling
The Texas Supreme Court's ruling in Kay Cox's case caused controversy. While a lower court judge granted her request for a temporary restraining order, the Texas Supreme Court blocked it and subsequently ruled against her. The court's decision, which criticized the medical exemption's qualification for the severity of the risks to the mother, raised questions about the judicial authority in making medical judgments and the future of legal challenges to abortion bans.
Kate Cox caught the attention of the nation last week when she asked a Texas judge for permission to end her pregnancy. Today on “Post Reports,” we talk to Caroline Kitchener about the new legal battles over abortion access.
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Kate Cox caught the attention of the nation last week when she asked a Texas judge for permission to end her pregnancy.
Three days later, a pregnant woman filed suit anonymously in Kentucky, arguing that the state’s near-total abortion ban violates her constitutional right to privacy and self-determination.
And across Texas, Tennessee and Idaho, several dozen women who had previously experienced pregnancy complications are awaiting decisions in a string of cases that could expand the health exceptions in their state abortion bans.
Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Maggie Penman. Thank you to Reena Flores and Ariel Plotnick.