Posted on Sep 9, 2021
Rape counsellors in Texas say they could be sued under abortion law
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Rape crisis centres in Texas are worried that the state’s new abortion law could see them face legal ramifications.
Senate Bill 8, which went into force last week, stops women from having an abortion as soon as fetal cardiac activity is detectable, usually around week six of pregnancy, which is often before women know they are pregnant.
Texas’ new “Heatbeat Bill” does not have an exception for rape survivors, which was a common feature of anti-abortion legislation previously. Anyone who helps a victim of sexual assault carry out an abortion can be sued by members of the public.
Senate Bill 8, which went into force last week, stops women from having an abortion as soon as fetal cardiac activity is detectable, usually around week six of pregnancy, which is often before women know they are pregnant.
Texas’ new “Heatbeat Bill” does not have an exception for rape survivors, which was a common feature of anti-abortion legislation previously. Anyone who helps a victim of sexual assault carry out an abortion can be sued by members of the public.
Rape counsellors in Texas say they could be sued under abortion law
Posted from independent.co.uk
Sexual Assault
State of Texas
Law
Lawsuit
Abortion
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."As there could be financial rewards for an individual, the law has been criticised for encouraging pro-life “bounty hunters”.
The vague legal language of the bill could potentially implicate everyone from a councillor to a friend who takes a woman to an abortion clinic.
One centre that helps women who have been sexually assaulted recently got calls from a number of pro-life advocates asking what the centre would say to a rape victim who finds herself pregnant.
“I felt like they were already fishing for a defendant in a lawsuit,” chief executive Amy Jones of the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center told The Lily.
“I would like to think that I’m overreacting, but I have to look around at the reality,” said Ms Jones. “If I was really motivated to catch someone, I would look at organisations like mine.”
..."As there could be financial rewards for an individual, the law has been criticised for encouraging pro-life “bounty hunters”.
The vague legal language of the bill could potentially implicate everyone from a councillor to a friend who takes a woman to an abortion clinic.
One centre that helps women who have been sexually assaulted recently got calls from a number of pro-life advocates asking what the centre would say to a rape victim who finds herself pregnant.
“I felt like they were already fishing for a defendant in a lawsuit,” chief executive Amy Jones of the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center told The Lily.
“I would like to think that I’m overreacting, but I have to look around at the reality,” said Ms Jones. “If I was really motivated to catch someone, I would look at organisations like mine.”
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