The anti-abortion movement is pushing for legislation that would strip pregnant women of their fundamental rights, criminalizing them for seeking medical care outside of their home state.
This is a clear violation of the long-standing tradition of allowing individuals to travel for healthcare, and it’s a slippery slope that could lead to further erosion of women’s rights. The Texas abortion bounty law, crafted by Jonathan Mitchell, is a prime example of this dangerous trend.
Mitchell is now representing a Texas man seeking to probe his ex-girlfriend’s abortion, which she obtained legally outside of their home state. This move would reclassify pregnant women as sub-citizens, subject to different laws and penalties simply because of their pregnancy status.
The Legal Movement to Marginalize Pregnant Women’s Rights
The implications of this are far-reaching and chilling. If a woman travels out of state for an abortion, she could face criminal charges, while a non-pregnant person seeking medical care would not. This creates a two-tiered system where pregnant women are treated as second-class citizens.
The Supreme Court is set to rule on a case involving the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which requires hospitals to provide lifesaving care to anyone, regardless of ability to pay.
Abortion opponents are arguing that this law should not apply to pregnant women, essentially allowing hospitals to refuse care to women in medical distress. This is a clear violation of the equal protection clause and would have devastating consequences for women’s health and autonomy.
The anti-abortion movement’s ideology is rooted in treating pregnant women as vessels for a fetus, rather than as individuals with agency and rights. This is a dangerous and unacceptable stance that undermines the very fabric of our society.
