Texas clinics call off abortion appointments as court reinstates ban

Abortion clinics in the state of Texas canceled a series of appointments over the weekend to fall in line as a US court reinstated the abortion ban, one of the most restrictive laws.

The reigns of the abortion law in Texas, for now, are in the hands of the 5th United States Court of Appeals, which earlier this week permitted authorities to resume the ban. In the meantime, Texas abortions providers and patients are right back to where they’ve been for most of the last six weeks, according to US media reports.

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The administration of United States President Joe Biden has demonstrated a major pushback against the restrictive law in Texas, however, uncertainty about its outcome persists as court arguments are pending.

The Texas abortion law, which crossed all state legislative hurdles this year, bans the medical procedure after cardiac activity is detected, which according to reports from Associated Press, can happen around the sixth week. The law makes no exceptions in cases that involve incest or rape.

President of the Center for Reproductive Rights Nancy Northup said after the federal appeals court has allowed Texas to resume banning most abortions, “Patients are being thrown back into a state of chaos and fear”, according to reports from Associated Press.

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Texas had roughly two dozen abortion clinics before the law took effect. At least six clinics resumed performing abortions after six weeks of pregnancy during the reprieve, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.

The Biden administration could bring the case back to the Supreme Court and ask it to quickly restore the order given by Pitman, a United States District Judge who halted briefly halted the law in Texas, although it is unclear whether they will do so.