CNA Staff, Apr 15, 2020 / 10:00 am
Chemical abortions in Texas will continue during the coronavirus pandemic after the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to overturn a lower court's order on Tuesday.
On April 9, the Western District Court of Texas placed a temporary restraining order on parts of the state's ban on elective abortions during the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The court's order allowed chemical abortions in the state to continue, as well as some surgical abortions.
Reviewing the court's order on chemical abortions, a three-judge panel for the Fifth Circuit on Tuesday declined to overturn it, saying it had "doubts" about the state's argument.
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) had issued an executive order in March halting non-essential medical and dental procedures during the pandemic to conserve medical resources for treating COVID-19.