Texas' six-week abortion ban goes into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court fails to act allows citizens to sue people who help terminate

A six-week abortion ban has taken effect in Texas after the U.S. Supreme Court did not respond to an urgent petition from clinics. Citizens will be able to sue providers to facilitate redundancies past this phase.

The new law banning women from terminating a pregnancy within six weeks when a fetal heartbeat can be detected came into force early Wednesday. However, medical and legal experts have argued that the term “heartbeat” is not accurate, as the heart of an embryo is not fully formed until much later.

According to election groups and abortion clinics, Texas' new abortion bill will affect at least 85% of interruptions that occur across the country, as many women are unaware that they are pregnant at such an early stage.

The decree was passed after the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday failed to respond to an emergency stop from abortion clinics in the Republican state. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) slammed the move in a Twitter thread as being “A full-scale assault on patients, our healthcare providers and our support systems," and promised to keep fighting until it toppled.

Not only does the law allow these lawsuits - it actively encourages individuals to act as bounty hunters by awarding them at least $ 10,000 if they are successful.

- ACLU (@ACLU) September 1, 2021

In an unprecedented move, citizens will be able to sue a provider or person who has facilitated a termination after a one and a half month interruption. If it turns out to have helped the process, the person will be forced to pay $ 10,000 (€ 8,470) to the person who brought the case.

The ACLU further added that the lawsuit “Actively encourages private individuals to act as bounty hunters” against millions of women in the state seeking safe access to abortion, as well as health professionals or drivers escorting women to a clinic.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the “Heartbeat Act” into law in May. It makes no exception for cases of re or incest - only medical emergencies.

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