Medical doctors informed Ms. Zurawski they may carry out an abortion provided that she grew to become acutely unwell or went into labor naturally, or if the fetus’s heartbeat stopped. That evening at residence, her water broke, however when she went to the emergency room, medical doctors mentioned she was not in labor. With out amniotic fluid, the fetus would die, nevertheless it nonetheless had a heartbeat. And since Ms. Zurawski’s very important indicators have been secure, they mentioned, she didn’t qualify for an exception. The hospital despatched her residence.
Ms. Zurawski and her husband, Josh Zurawski, thought of driving 11 hours to New Mexico, however had been informed to remain inside a 20 minutes’ drive of the hospital in Texas in case she went into labor. She was so apprehensive about being prosecuted, “I didn’t even really feel secure Googling choices,” Ms. Zurawski mentioned. “I didn’t know what they may and couldn’t search.”
Three days later, her medical doctors once more informed the Zurawskis they may not legally abort the fetus as a result of it nonetheless had a heartbeat. At residence that evening, Ms. Zurawski developed a fever, and her husband referred to as the obstetrician to ask to go to the hospital. “We have been on this mind-set of, ‘Certainly now you’ll settle for us,’” Mr. Zurawski mentioned. A nurse informed them, he mentioned, that medical doctors must obtain approval from the hospital’s ethics board.
He lastly rushed his spouse to the emergency room later that evening. There her fever spiked to 103.2 levels. Medical doctors confirmed that she had a blood an infection and mentioned her life was now in peril, so they may induce supply with out violating Texas’ abortion ban.
Later that evening, she developed a secondary an infection. Medical doctors informed Mr. Zurawski that they needed to give his spouse a blood transfusion to stabilize her sufficient to maneuver her to the intensive care unit. The couple’s households flew in, fearing that she would die.
Ms. Zurawski left intensive care after three days, and the hospital after every week. Two months later, she had an operation to take away scar tissue from her uterus and fallopian tubes, however the medical doctors have been unable to clear one.
