For the third time in less than a year, the state of Texas is going to court to defend its abortion policies, 1200 WOAI news reports.
Today's arguments in federal court are over a ban of the most common second trimester procedure to end a pregnancy. Amy Hagstrom-Miller with Whole Women's Health in Texas says this is nothing more than a thinly-veiled attempt by the state legislature to outlaw what is a legal medical practice.
"Once again, we're seeing politicians insert themselves without having any real health benefit for the women," she says.
The procedure, called dilation and evacuation, involves a doctor using surgical instruments to remove pieces of fetal tissue. Under Texas' Senate Bill 8, it can only be performed if the fetus is dead.
Anti-abortion groups call it "dismemberment" and feel it's inhumane.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton feels the fight is to preserve the dignity of life.
"Dismemberment abortions are a gruesome and inhumane method of ending human life. Senate Bill 8 protects the dignity and sanctity of life, along with the integrity of the medical profession. "We are honored to defend SB 8 in court," he said in a statement.
Texas is not alone in their push for a ban on this type of abortion. Several states, including the neighboring Oklahoma and Louisiana, have passed similar laws.
Hagstrom-Miller says there has been a fight at every step."It has been overturned in every state. The law is on our side."
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