The Grim Cost of Dogmatic Control
When principium bends to fanaticism, what follows is rarely benign. The escalating maternal mortality rates in Texas since its 2021 abortion ban offer a grave illustration of this truth. It’s a story that should alarm anyone, regardless of political affiliation, but particularly those who still cling to the hope that individual freedom means something in this country.
As it stands, the state’s draconian law has exposed a chilling reality: denying basic healthcare not only strips women of their rights but also dooms many of them to perilous outcomes. In the rush to force pregnancies to term, Texas is creating casualties—one mother at a time.
We must begin with the zeitgeist of the post-2021 era. Texas lawmakers, emboldened by a Supreme Court leaning their way, passed legislation that effectively criminalized abortion after five weeks of pregnancy. With the zeal of crusaders, they cheered a policy that claimed to protect life.
But what has life become for those women denied access to critical reproductive care? According to a recent analysis, maternal mortality rates in Texas have surged by 56% from 2019 to 2022. It’s an unforgiving statistic.
