Since the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade in June, Texas has closed the most abortion clinics of any state, a new report from the Guttmacher Institute discovers.
The shutdowns confirm predictions that, after the decision effectively terminated all federal protections for abortion, access to the procedure would quickly diminish in states with a conservative majority, according to Oriana Gonzalez of Axios. Some clinics, however, moved operations to states where abortion is protected.
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, more than 80% of abortion facilities in 15 states with strong abortion restrictions have stopped performing the procedure.
Texas had 23 clinics open prior to the ruling; 12 were closed, and 11 are still open but only provide other services. Texas law currently prohibits abortion, including when cases involve rape and incest. However, several influential senators have indicated that they might be receptive to allowing rape or incest victims access to abortions.
Rachel Jones, a research from the Guttmacher Institute articulates: “"The loss of clinics is felt in all states — even those where abortion remains legal. Abortion clinics in these states are being inundated with people from states with abortion bans seeking care.” Unfortunately, Texans are being hit the hardest, causing many to struggle to locate possible solutions.
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