The Unethical Texas Heartbeat Law

Abstract

What is already known? The Texas Heartbeat Act, which has been in effect since September 2021, prohibits abortions once a ‘fetal heartbeat’ is detected, except in emergency situations. The law significantly limits access to abortion services in Texas, by essentially prohibiting abortions post 6 weeks' gestation. The law has been subjected to several legal challenges, none of which have been successful to date. What does this article add? This article provides an overview of some of the ethical concerns the law raises and identifies some of the problems the law creates for women, the health profession and society. The article ultimately argues that the law ought to be quashed.