Texas committee wants to review abortion-related deaths

AUSTIN, Texas — In late September, the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Committee requested information on the number of abortion-related deaths in the state. The data has been kept from the group for more than a decade.

“We can’t make comments about what caused an increase in maternal death in our state if we’re not really reviewing all of them,” said Dr. Carla Ortique, chair of the committee.

The request follows the panel’s latest report, which shows that in 2020 the maternal mortality rate was 27.7 deaths per 100,000 live births—compared to 17.2 in 2019. The data predates the state’s near total abortion ban, which is expected to increase maternal mortality. 

“Each maternal death, each life that is lost, has value,” said Ortique. 

Health care providers say the context from the number of abortion-related deaths could save lives. 

“Get down to the root of some of our problems and to really figure out how can we make a positive change,” said Dr. Todd Ivey, a Houston OB-GYN and district chair of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 

Legislators would need to change state law to allow the committee to view the data. There isn’t expected to be pushback, but Austin-area Democratic state Rep. Donna Howard thinks abortion-related terms should be redefined in state law to better understand the mortality and morbidity patterns. 

Current state law does not consider the removal of an ectopic pregnancy as an abortion, but medically, it is. 

“So part of what we should be doing is being consistent with medical science and what medical definitions are, and not playing games politically,” said Howard. 

Anti-abortion advocates support the committee’s request for the data, but say that definitions don’t need to change. 

“Because when we gather this data, we want to understand the true deaths in the state of Texas that are occurring because of abortion,” said Amy O’Donnell with Texas Alliance for Life.

Ivey says more education is needed for policymakers to understand why an abortion is necessary to treat ectopic pregnancy. He added that clarity to the state’s law that only allows for abortions in the case of an emergency would help address mortality and morbidity rates. 

“People are very confused and people are very frightened exactly what they can and cannot do,” said Ivey.

The Texas Medical Board recently adopted new rules that protect doctors who perform abortions for ectopic pregnancies, but many doctors want more clarity.