Texas Abortion Ban Linked to 50% Spike in Sepsis Cases During Miscarriages

New analysis reveals life-threatening delays in care as maternal mortality rates rise in Texas following restrictive abortion laws.

A ProPublica analysis found that sepsis rates in Texas hospitals increased by over 50% for second-trimester pregnancy loss cases after the state banned most abortions in 2021.
The surge in sepsis cases is most pronounced in patients whose fetuses still had a detectable heartbeat upon hospital admission, delaying critical medical interventions.
Doctors report confusion and fear of legal repercussions under Texas's abortion laws, which impose severe penalties for performing abortions, even in medically urgent situations.
Maternal deaths in Texas hospitals rose sharply, with 120 in-hospital deaths recorded in 2022 and 2023, a significant increase compared to pre-pandemic years.
Calls for legislative clarification on abortion exceptions have emerged, but the Texas Maternal Mortality Review Committee has opted not to review deaths from 2022 and 2023.