Highlighting the fight against the coronavirus epidemic, the states of Texas and Ohio have ordered all non-emergency operations, including abortions, to be suspended.
Women's rights defenders castigated an “ideological” maneuver, reminding that abortions could not wait.
"Denying women's constitutional law" at abortion
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Saturday ordered the postponement of "medically unnecessary procedures" to ensure the availability of beds for Covid-19 patients and protective equipment for caregivers to treat them. This order applies to voluntary abortions except in case of danger to the life of the mother, said Monday the attorney general of this conservative state in the south of the United States, Ken Paxton.
"Those who violate the governor's order will be punished with the full force of the law," he added in a statement, citing sentences of up to 180 days in prison and a $ 1,000 fine. "It is not surprising to see the Attorney General use any excuse to carry out his ideological agenda," said Kathy Miller, president of the local abortion rights association, Texas Freedom Network. Stressing that "the legal window for abortion is already limited", she estimated in a press release that "postponing" the interventions "amounted to denying the constitutional right of women" to abortion.
Abortions, "essential and urgent medical procedures"
In Ohio, after a decision by the health authorities to suspend "non-emergency" operations, the Attorney General sent letters to three abortion clinics to order them to comply. "It's not about abortion, a letter has also been addressed to a urology group," said prosecutor spokeswoman Bethany McCorkle. Two of the clinics concerned, managed by the Planned Parenthood organization, assured themselves to comply with the instructions and to have suspended non-urgent interventions. But, they added in a statement, "abortions are essential and urgent medical procedures".
"Our doors will remain open for this treatment," promised their directors Iris Harvey and Kersha Deibel. The United States Supreme Court in 1973 recognized the right of all Americans to abort, but allows states to legislate to regulate the practice, which has created significant regional disparities. The southern and central states of the country, where the religious right is well established, have thus multiplied restrictive legislation, severely limiting access to abortion on their territory.
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