Protesters gather in front the U.S. Supreme Court as it hears a major abortion case. The court will be focusing on whether a Texas law imposes strict regulations regarding abortion clinics and doctors. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
One Texas reproductive medicine doctor is having trouble sending her patients who are seeking abortions away.
Blair Cushing, a McAllen resident, said to Insider that it is hard to "shoot people away".
Two 14-year-old girls, who were not interested in having a baby, are two of the many patients she has turned away since SB 8 was passed in September.
Blair Cushing, Dr. Blair Cushing, has been trying to deceive her patients and refuse to provide abortion care since September.
This is a huge ask for a Cushing doctor who focuses on reproductive health. After the restrictive law was implemented, she can't legally perform an abortive procedure. Doctors are now faced with the possibility of being sued and must weigh the wishes of patients over their own.
SB 8 is the law. It effectively bans any person from having an abortion after six weeks. This is the point most women don't know they are pregnant. People who break the law could be sued in court. This would likely result in at least $10,00 in statutory damages for each abortion.
Texas abortion clinics have attempted to block the law by arguing that it would ban care for "at most 85%" of Texas' abortion patients. On Monday, the US Supreme Court heard arguments regarding the law.
The law was enacted September 1. Since then, Texans who need an abortion have sought other options such as securing pills and traveling out of state.
Some Texas abortion providers have had to refuse patients who requested the procedure. Cushing's clinic is not different. It operates under Whole Woman's Health abortion provider.
Cushing stated to Insider that the biggest problem is "shoving people away who we could very simply treat and just as safely treat than we could have two or three months ago."
She must inform her patients that after six weeks, she is not allowed to legally perform abortions.
"I told them that I could not offer an abortion in Texas. No one else can give you an abortion in Texas. We can refer you to other clinics if you are still interested in having an abortion.
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For many McAllen patients, McAllen is a small city in south Texas, just eight miles from the US/Mexico border. Leaving Texas is not an option. This would require you to cross Texas' vastness to reach a neighboring state. It is not feasible for undocumented people or those with responsibilities that they cannot abandon, such as children or jobs.
Cushing stated, "When we're talking about traveling out of state, it's 12 hours driving distance to get to the nearest border in any direction." You're also located in a remote area, so there are no direct flights to other places. Good luck!
These patients were among many Cushing had to turn away.
Cushing recently had to refuse teenage patients. Two teenage girls, both 14 years old, showed up at Cushing's McAllen clinic the same day. Cushing stated that both were not eligible for an abortion. She had a heartbreaking conversation with her staff after she sent them off.
"Even those who wrote the law feel strongly against abortion, how can you believe that it's okay to punish a 14 year old by forcing her to have a baby?" Cushing claimed she spoke to her staff.
Cushing also said that she has encountered patients who are well-versed in the law, but have irregular periods which make it difficult to determine if they are eligible for an abortion. Patients come in for an ultrasound to determine if they are eligible. However, many times afterward they are turned away.
Census data shows that nearly one in four McAllen residents lives in poverty.
Cushing stated, "It's really difficult because I know what the situation is for people."
Business Insider has the original article.
