Supreme Court Rules to Protect Safe and Legal Abortion for Tens of Thousands of Texas Women

New York, NY – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to protect access to safe, legal abortion in Texas by vacating a stay entered on October 2 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The effect is to reinstate a district court order enjoining unnecessary and severe state restrictions, which had forced more than a dozen health centers to stop providing safe, legal abortion overnight — leaving nearly a million Texas women of reproductive age more than 150 miles from the nearest abortion provider. Within hours of the Fifth Circuit’s ruling, Planned Parenthood witnessed the catastrophic impact that these restrictions have had on women’s health care access — we have been inundated with calls from frightened and upset patients and have seen women lined up outside our doors in the morning, waiting to see if they can still access the care they need as Planned Parenthood had continued to provide safe, legal abortion at ambulatory surgical centers in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.

Statement from Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America: 

"We're seeing the terrible impact these restrictions have on thousands of Texas women who effectively no longer have access to safe and legal abortion. We're relieved that the court stepped in to stop this, and we hope this dangerous law is ultimately overturned completely."

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.