AUSTIN, TEXAS — Today, the Texas House Committee on Public Health heard public testimony reflecting overwhelming bipartisan support for HB 44, the Life of the Mother Act. The bill, which would restore physicians’ ability to use their medical judgment when a pregnancy will risk impairment to a major bodily function or will risk the woman’s life, is a critical step towards bringing back reproductive access to our communities. Current law threatens physicians with severe penalties, including life in prison, if they perform an abortion that is challenged in court by anti-abortion activists. The threat of criminal and civil prosecution has had a chilling effect and has prevented physicians from being able to use their reasonable medical judgment.
This bill comes at a critical time in Texas, where since the 2021 abortion ban was passed, maternal deaths have surged 56% (compared to 11% nationally), infant mortality has risen by 12.9%, and sepsis rates during second-trimester pregnancy losses have increased over 50%.
The Life of the Mother Act would:
Shift the burden of proof to prosecutors, allowing physicians to focus on patients’ immediate health rather than a potential future court case. Clarify that imminence is not required before a physician can intervene, a provision which has paralyzed Texas healthcare, forcing doctors to choose between their Hippocratic oath and potential criminal charges. Protect both patients and our medical workforce, as 70% of practicing OB-GYNs report that they cannot provide high-quality care under current law, and one in five are considering leaving Texas.
**Dr. Deborah Fuller (OBGYN), testifying on behalf of the Texas Medical Association with the support of the Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: **"The Life of the Mother Act will bring much needed clarity to our existing laws to support physicians in providing the best evidence-based care for their patients. This bill presents a thoughtful, necessary step in protecting the health and well-being of women in Texas. … Most importantly, it helps to ensure that women in Texas can receive timely medically necessary care in the moments they need it most.