More danger ahead
Re: “Abortion ban creating a standard of fear — Texas is among the states with the highest maternal death rates — experts say it has only become more perilous,” Aug. 24 news story.
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Many, many thanks to the writers who have contributed to this series and to The Dallas Morning News for printing these important stories. They have highlighted the very real impact of the onerous collection of abortion laws on families. Texas women of child-bearing age are truly in danger living here, and the Texas Legislature continues with every session to try to make it worse — including the current special session.
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House Bill 7 under consideration would make the manufacture and distribution of abortion pills illegal. Additionally, it removes protections from frivolous lawsuits on abortion matters and includes more bounty hunter provisions that can turn neighbor against neighbor.
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Carving out the policy area of abortion from frivolous lawsuits protections can, and likely will, lead to carve outs of other policy areas in the future. (What happened to tort reform to cut down on lawsuits?) The companion bill in the Texas Senate is even worse.
In the Opinion section on Aug. 24, the lead quote in the “What They Said” column was from this series. From a Texas medical malpractice lawyer, the quote sums up Texas perfectly: “Here’s the deal with these laws, they have basically legalized malpractice. Or to flip that around: They made the standard of care illegal. Because in a lot of situations, the … undisputed, national standard of care is now illegal in Texas.”
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Howdy, folks! Welcome to the state of Texas!
Judy Mynett Ward, Richardson
Consequences of abortion ban
Kudos to The Dallas Morning News for its extensive and well-researched story on the consequences of our state’s abortion ban. The story also mentions that the Commonwealth Fund ranked Texas second to last in the country for maternal health performance.
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In that context, it is notable that California has just about the lowest maternal mortality rate in the country. To put it another way, a Texas woman is nearly two and half times more likely to die when giving birth compared to a woman in California.
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Perhaps Texas needs to learn from California. Wouldn’t that be interesting?
Keith Marton, North Dallas
Better care needed
This front-page story was very well-written and frightening. The examples of stressful pregnancies and doctor interviews were most informative.
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In a state where we are 49th in women’s health care, there should be better and more comprehensive care of pregnant women.
And why is someone like Attorney General Ken Paxton even involved in women’s care or lack thereof?
Michael Hogue’s artwork is again a wonderful addition including beautiful details of the story.
Thank you.
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Mary Geisler, Dallas
Series ‘magnificent’
I applaud The Dallas Morning News’ incredibly detailed, in-depth analysis of the horrific damage done by Texas’ almost total abortion ban. Finally, a media outlet had the courage to report something other than the simplistic sloganeering of the anti-choice movement.
Too often the loud, hateful voices of the so-called pro-life movement have remained unchallenged out of fear or an unwillingness to offend those who cover themselves with the force field of religion.
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The government has no place in interfering in this complicated decision. Your magnificent, fact-based series on this subject shows exactly why.
Robert Button, Murphy
Do Texas leaders know?
The Dallas Morning News’ “Standard of Fear” series presents tragic accounts of the fatalities caused by Texas’ draconian abortion laws. And I wonder has The News been forwarding these stories to the great and glorious leaders of this state? It should be required reading for every one of them.
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Richard Street, Carrollton
Trust our physicians
When I first started reading the stories this week about the impact of Texas abortion laws, I thought they were simply more pro-abortion rights editorials. They still have some of that feel to them, but I think they also make important points. The main point is when presented with a patient experiencing a life-threatening situation, the decision on the best course of action should be a physician.
We have to be able to trust our doctors. I don’t know one pro-life person who doesn’t believe in the exception for when the life of a mother, or the baby, is at risk.
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Pro-life advocates are trying to prevent abortions of convenience or because a baby is not wanted. I believe they don’t want to prevent a doctor and a patient from making necessary and difficult medical decisions in emergency situations.
Bob Campbell, Frisco
Damage is done in Texas
I want to praise The Dallas Morning News for its collection of necessary but heartbreaking stories that are a direct effect of one of the nation’s most strict abortion bans.
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Family members have been wondering why my wife and I have been hesitant to create additions to our family and it’s because Texas has made pregnancy a crapshoot. We have no control over when complications arise, and if they do, I want to be assured that our doctors have every ability to give us the highest standard of care.
Texas and its leadership have made it clear that it is not safe to have children in this state. Our representatives can file bills like Senate Bill 31 to attempt to put the worms back in the can, but the damage is done.
William Dominguez, Richardson
Back off, legislators
Re: “Experts: Women were treated too late,” Monday news story.
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This story shows the lack of knowledge our governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and most of the Texas Legislature have regarding proper medical attention for women who are pregnant. No surprise, they did not attend medical schools. But they think they can have a say in setting legal rules for women’s health. In 2026, this whole bunch should be discharged out on the street!
I learned the horror of mismanaged health care for pregnant women about 1961 as a medical student with a call to the emergency room. The 19-year-old was whiter than the sheet under her, half conscious, with a fever of 104 and a barely palpable pulse.
Morally, I don’t approve of totally elective abortions, but that is better than a coat hanger in an alley.
These stories in the paper are appalling. Anomalies occur in all species in nature and can’t be controlled by legislation. It is time for the legislators and administrators in Texas’ government to back off and leave the matter of abortion to the woman, her doctor, her spouse and her religious leader. It is a private matter she will live with all her life.
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Marvin Noble, North Dallas
Why would doctors stay?
It’s so rich: A bunch of men are bent on forcing women to carry babies, but, once those babies are here, they don’t want to feed, care, school or insure them. Why would any obstetrician-gynecologist work here? Oh, right. They aren’t.
Ann Thornton, East Dallas
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I thought, as journalists, you were supposed to present both sides of the story. But you consistently present only one side of it. For instance; in the abortion stories you stress the supposed dangers to women if Texas doctors can’t perform abortions. But you fail to show how many unborn children have been saved.
How many women have been saved from post-abortion syndrome? You probably haven’t even investigated post-abortion syndrome. The organization Rachel’s Garden exists to help women through it.
Curt Lampkin, Azle
AdvertisementWaiting with infection?
Imagine you have had surgery for prostate cancer. Imagine you developed an infection. Imagine you went to the emergency room and had to wait for the doctor to decide if it was legally safe to treat you.
Women are not being treated because the patriarchy considers them expendable as anything but broodmares.
Cynthia Stock, Garland
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Reading your excellent report on the effects of Texas’ anti-abortion laws on women made me very sad but also very angry. I have granddaughters that I pray never become pregnant in Texas.
As you report, the risks pregnant women face in this state are too great. I have been amazed for 50 years at the anti-abortion movement’s success in labeling their efforts pro-life. They are anything but.
Recent stories have revealed how Texas leads the nation in food insecurity, especially among children. We are also among the leaders in maternal and infant deaths and the number of uninsured.
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The anti-abortion movement is a religious driven effort designed to legislate its theological concept of when life begins as well as its view of women as being in subjugation to men.
My fear is that this theocratic-designed effort will next target birth control for women. As long as we continue to elect these religious zealots the fate of women in Texas will be in danger. Theocracies, whether in Iran or America, are not good for women.
Cecil Larry Pool, Midlothian
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