Texas Senate Bill 8 and Abortion Experiences in Patients with Fetal Diagnoses

OBJECTIVE: To describe experiences with abortion counseling and access in patients with lethal or life-limiting fetal diagnoses in Texas after enactment of Senate Bill 8 (SB8). METHODS: In this qualitative study, we interviewed patients who obtained abortions after enactment of SB8, using semi-structured interviews to explore how restrictions affected abortion care. Two researchers coded all transcripts using an inductive technique and analyzed themes in an iterative approach. RESULTS: We interviewed 16 participants who reported gestational durations from 13 to 29 weeks at the time of abortion. Participants described loss of the therapeutic patient–physician relationship and feelings of isolation while pursuing abortion due to the limitations imposed by SB8. For example, participants felt there was a physician “gag rule” regarding abortion (“the unspoken word of termination”), resulting in the need to find information about pregnancy options outside of the medical community and further highlighting the privilege of financial resources necessary to obtain an abortion on their own. Participants also expressed fears regarding confidentiality with their support systems and clinicians (“I would joke around and say, well don’t sue me, but halfway mean it”) and personal safety when self-referring for abortion (“.am I making the right choice on where I need to go? Is it safe?”). CONCLUSION: Abortion restrictions and bans such as SB8 erode the patient–physician relationship, evoking fear and safety concerns during a vulnerable time for those undergoing abortion for lethal or life-limiting fetal diagnoses. They force patients to shoulder the significant burden of understanding pregnancy options and navigating the process of abortion alone, which is likely to have greater effects on those with fewer resources.