TX doctors Ass. condemns abortion ban, says it encourages "vigilante interference" in doctor-patient

[LetMyPeopleVote]

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The Texas Medical Association slammed the state Legislature on Friday, calling its passage of two anti-abortion bills “unconstitutional” and an interference with the fundamental patient-physician relationship.

“Enough,” the organization wrote in a statement. “The Texas Medical Association supports our physicians specializing in women’s health and opposes legislation in Senate Bill 8 of Texas’ 87th legislative session and Senate Bill 4 of this special session. SB 4 contains language that criminalizes the practice of medicine. Both bills interfere with the patient-physician relationship.”

The statement came during a week when Texas has been at the center of the national abortion debate.

On Wednesday, SB 8, which bans abortion after six weeks, including in instances of rape and incest, went into effect. The new law is a near-total ban on abortion and one of the strictest such measures in the country.

[carpetbagger]

1. They can shove it.

I'm a doctor in Texas, not a TMA member. Their PAC gave money last cycle to one of the sponsors of a bill in the Texas house that would punish having an abortion with death. Maybe they've come around, but I'm not holding my breath.

[GPV]

2. Yeah, I guess I wouldn't hold mine either.

[LeftInTX]

3. They endorse all the Republicans

[Turbineguy]

4. My ass agrees.

[CanonRay]

5. Bet 95% of them voted Rethug

[LetMyPeopleVote]

6. 'Abbott has failed us': Doctors lash out at Texas GOP for reckless COVID-19 policies

Greg is killing his voters

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One of Abbott's outspoken critics is Sugarland, Texas-based cardiologist David Portugal, a member of the group Committee to Protect

Health Care. Portugal is urging Abbott to reverse his executive order forbidding public schools from having mask mandates.

Portugal told Texas Public Radio, "Gov. Abbott has failed us. A Republican state legislature has failed us. These leaders should be held accountable and be asked to explain how they can justify taking actions that are killing their fellow Texans."

Dr. Elena Jimenez-Gutierrez, who practices internal medicine in San Antonio, is warning that hospitals are being overwhelmed by COVID-19 in Texas.

Jimenez-Gutierrez told Texas Public Radio, "Hospital staff and resources are stretched to the breaking point…. Doctors and other health care workers see every day how too many Texans are needlessly getting sick, including many children when we know this disease can be prevented."

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who has no party affiliation, fears that the crisis in Texas hospitals is only going to get worse in the weeks and months ahead.