. Opponents say that has left some women with providers who are unwilling to even discuss terminating a pregnancy.
Samantha Casiano testified she was halfway through her pregnancy when she found out during an appointment that her daughter had a rare diagnosis of anencephaly, where much of the skull and brain is missing. Doctors told her they could not provide her an abortion in Texas, and when a caseworker was called into the room, Casiano was handed funeral home information.
Although Texas' ban narrowly allows exceptions when the patient's life is in danger, opponents say the the law is so vaguely worded that doctors remain afraid to perform abortions even under those circumstances.Sixteen states, including Texas, do not allow abortions when a fatal fetal anomaly is detected, while six do not allow exceptions for the mother’s health, according to an analysis by KFF, a health research organization.