On Tuesday, the Texas senate passed Senate Bill 25 to the Texas House, a motion that would allow doctors to lie to patients that they believe would terminate a pregnancy if results suggested that the fetus possessed a disability. This bill would prevent parents from suing their healthcare provider in the instance of giving birth to a disabled child.
Women’s Rights activists all over the country are outraged at this potential violation of a patient’s legal right to an abortion. Although this bill presents itself as a way of preventing the termination of a fetus on the basis of disability, many activists argue that this is just a sly way for Texan state government to further restrain reproductive rights.
As a disabled person and a pro-choice activist, this bill places me at a very unusual crossroads.
Part of me hopes that a bill like this could prevent the termination of fetuses who will potentially grow up very similar to me. But part of me also agrees that this bill would cause way more harm than good. A doctor should never be legally allowed to lie to a patient, especially since the expecting mother’s health must also be taken into consideration.
Additionally, living with a disability is an incredibly expensive addition to the additional cost of healthcare. Families need to be given the results of tests in order to begin preparing themselves financially to care for a baby with disabilities. In some cases, special equipment may need to be purchased and installed before the baby is delivered.
Although allowing a fetus to be aborted on the basis of disability leaves a bad taste in my mouth, this bill has the potential to negatively impact the lives of thousands, which I cannot stand for.
