Kate Cox, from Texas, was unable to obtain an abortion due to state laws, despite her fetus having a life-threatening condition. Despite experiencing multiple emergency room visits, high vital signs, and the possibility of uterine rupture, she was still not eligible for the procedure. Additionally, her ability to have future children was put at risk.

The mother of two’s plea for an exemption from the strict abortion ban in Texas was denied by the state’s Supreme Court. This highlights the significant obstacles that women in numerous states face when seeking the procedure, such as pregnancy complications that could endanger the mother’s life.

“The court’s nine justices, who are Republican, stated in their ruling on Monday evening that these laws are a reflection of the policy decision made by the Legislature and must be honored.”

The Republican attorney general of the state had been arguing for a week that Cox did not qualify for an exception, despite her attorneys’ pleas that her health was declining. Just before the order was issued, Cox’s attorney stated that she could not delay the procedure any longer and had already traveled to another state for an abortion.

Doctors and opponents were upset by the ruling, arguing that it highlighted the ambiguity of abortion bans regarding the level of danger a patient must be facing in order to receive the procedure. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health last year, which overturned the right to an abortion, fourteen states have implemented bans on abortion at various stages of pregnancy.

The results in Texas were met with disapproval from the White House, which denounced the abortion policies of the Republican party and deemed them out of touch. In a statement on Tuesday, President Joe Biden stated, “This should not be allowed to occur in America, under any circumstances.”

According to public surveys, most adults in the United States believe that abortion should be legal, at least during the early stages of pregnancy.

Dr. Clayton Alfonso, an OB-GYN at Duke University, said things “can go from being really OK to really bad really quickly” during pregnancy. He said that with so many nuances in medicine, it’s often difficult to know what will lead to a death.

Alfonso stated that the situation does not align with the rigid legal parameters of right and wrong.

The ban in Texas is among the strictest in the United States, and those who support the law claim that it successfully achieved its intended purpose this week, despite acknowledging the tragic circumstances of Cox.

However, on Tuesday, there was no response from Texas Republicans who supported the state’s ban. Messages requesting comment were not returned by the offices of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, the state’s GOP lieutenant governor, and the House speaker.

States with bans in the U.S. have provisions to allow abortion to save the life of the woman. There’s a patchwork of policies for other exceptions, including for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. In the states with the most restrictive policies, abortion is generally allowed if doctors find it necessary to prevent the pregnant woman from irreversible impairment of a major bodily function — but not to protect her health in other ways, including mental health.

John Seago, the president of Texas Right to Life, leads a group that is against abortion and has been influential in passing strict laws in the state. Seago stated that their goal is for doctors to take immediate action if there is a danger to someone’s life. However, he pointed out that Cox’s legal action did not prove that there was a life-threatening situation.

Seago stated that although the child has received a negative diagnosis, according to Texas law, every child in the state should be given the opportunity to live. It is a heartbreaking situation, but we are committed to upholding this strong stance.

Every year, approximately 700 women in the country lose their lives due to complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. Medical professionals express concerns that postponing an abortion could result in a procedure with slightly higher risks, especially if the pregnancy is in later stages. Although they emphasize that abortion is generally safe at any point during a pregnancy, with a 2% complication rate overall, there are added risks as the pregnancy advances.

Medical professionals and experts report that there has been a rise in the frequency of delayed abortions since the legal precedent set by Roe v. Wade was overturned. A significant factor contributing to these delays is the growing necessity for individuals to seek abortion services in other states.

Certain state legislators have made efforts to specify their statutes this year. In the state of Texas, for example, they included a clause that grants legal immunity to doctors who terminate pregnancies due to premature rupture of membranes or ectopic pregnancies.

In late last month, tests confirmed that Cox’s baby had a condition called trisomy 18, which included an additional chromosome and increased the likelihood of the baby passing away before or shortly after birth.

Dr. Andrea Henkel, a clinical assistant in the obstetrics and gynecology department and a subspecialist in complex family planning at Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, California, explained that trisomy 18 is linked to a higher chance of developing gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and needing a cesarean birth. She also noted that having multiple cesareans, like Cox who has already had two, can increase risk, particularly if Cox plans on having more children in the future.

Henkel expressed that their current challenge is when lawmakers interfere with a patient’s ability to create the most suitable plan based on their individual goals and preferences.

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Stengle provided coverage from Dallas. Laura Ungar in Louisville, Kentucky; Geoff Mulvihill in Philadelphia; and Kendria LaFleur in Dallas contributed to this report as writers for the Associated Press.