What happens in Texas if a pregnant woman needs life-saving medical care?
The Life of the Mother Act: What exactly is it?
The Life of the Mother Act is a Texas law passed in 2025. It clarifies that:
- Doctors do not have to hesitate to terminate a pregnancy if a mom is having a medical emergency.
- Protections exist for pregnant women and doctors so care is not delayed or denied in a medical emergency.
- Texas will educate doctors about legal abortion health care.
The bottom line is...
You deserve health care.
You don't have to hesitate.
And Texas law clarifies how you are protected.
You can read the entire Life of the Mother Act here.
What does that mean for a mom and her doctor?
The law makes clear how Texas doctors can treat pregnant women in serious medical emergencies, including performing a necessary abortion.
- A pregnant woman's doctor does not have to wait until her life is in immediate danger to act.
- Doctors do not have to delay care to protect the fetus if waiting puts the pregnant woman at higher risk.
- A pregnant woman's doctor is protected by law when using reasonable medical judgment.
- To prosecute a doctor, the state must prove no other reasonable doctor would have made the same choice.
- Texas requires all doctors who specialize in caring for pregnant women to learn about the Life of the Mother Act.
- Elective abortion is still illegal in Texas.
simply put: If your health is in serious danger, your doctor can terminate a pregnancy.
What Counts as a Medical Emergency?
To determine if a pregnant woman is having a medical emergency under Texas law, her doctor should think about two main questions:
Does the patient have a physical health problem that is possibly fatal and (i) could result in her death or (ii) put her at serious risk of substantial harm to a major bodily function (such as her heart, lungs, or kidneys)?
Will terminating the pregnancy reduce or prevent either of those risks?
If a physician answers “yes” to both questions, then an abortion is legally allowed.
The law does NOT require your condition to become worse or for serious harm or death to be imminent before care is given.
What kind of pregnancy-related care is always legal in Texas?
The following treatments are always allowed:
Removal of an ectopic pregnancy
(these are typically pregnancies growing outside the womb that will not survive)
Miscarriage care
Birth control and emergency contraception
Delivery to save a baby's life
Treatment for cancer, appendicitis, heart problems, or other medical emergencies
Removal of pregnancy tissue after a loss
If a pregnancy ends by accident or by medically necessary termination during these or any other treatments, Texas law does not consider it an illegal abortion.
Note: Watching and waiting for your symptoms to change is always an option when managing a pregnancy-related health problem with your doctor.
What about the cases that don't qualify in Texas?
Texas law clarifies that these situations alone do not allow for a legal medical termination of a pregnancy:
- Fetal anomaly
- Rape or incest
- Mental health concerns
- Elective abortion
However: If a medical emergency develops in addition to the situations listed above, the exception to the law applies.
What does a pregnant woman do if she's having trouble getting help for any reason?
If you're pregnant and in a medical emergency but not getting the help you need, you can:
Ask your doctor to explain their reasons for not acting.
Request additional opinions from other health care professionals.
Ask for transfer to another facility.
You deserve timely, appropriate medical care.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Medical emergency” means your physical health problem is potentially life-threatening and could cause serious harm or death if not treated.
Texas’ many abortion prohibitions do not apply to a pregnant woman who ends, or tries to end, her own pregnancy. While there are other Texas criminal laws that might apply in some cases, no woman has been successfully prosecuted for ending her own pregnancy in Texas since the abortion prohibitions took effect. Remember that anyone who helps you have an elective abortion in Texas can be sued or prosecuted with serious legal consequences.
Your doctor is protected when they use reasonable medical judgment to give a medically necessary abortion. Texas must prove that no other reasonable doctor would have acted the same way in a medical emergency before taking action against your doctor. However, anyone who helps you have an elective abortion in Texas can be sued or prosecuted with serious legal consequences.
If you are pregnant in Texas, seek care in a medical emergency. While Texas has strict prohibitions on elective abortion, the Life of the Mother Act is clear that those laws do not prevent doctors from performing a necessary termination for you during emergency pregnancy complications. In addition, you cannot be prosecuted for seeking the care you need while pregnant.
Even if your pregnancy is viable, you still have the right to choose the safest treatment for your health or choose how you want to balance the risk between your health and your pregnancy. Doctors do not have to delay care to protect the fetus if waiting puts you at higher risk. No one can force you into a riskier option, such as a C-section. Talk with your doctor about the best course of action for you.
Some doctors may still worry about legal consequences even though they are taught the law. If you are having a medical emergency, you have the right to safe, timely medical care in Texas. You can ask your doctor to explain their decision, request another opinion, or ask to be transferred to a different facility.
Seek help from a medical professional if you are having complications from a self-managed abortion. Texas’ many abortion prohibitions do not apply to a pregnant woman who ends, or tries to end, her own pregnancy. While there are other Texas criminal laws that might apply in some cases, no woman has been successfully prosecuted for ending her own pregnancy in Texas since the abortion prohibitions took effect. Remember that anyone who helps you have an elective abortion in Texas can be sued or prosecuted with serious legal consequences.
Doctors and Care Teams: This Is for You
The Life of the Mother Act clarifies:
- Reasonable medical judgment does not require medical certainty.
- Physicians do not need unanimous agreement from peers.
- A pregnant woman is not required to be facing imminent death or to experience the effects of any physical health risk before she receives medical intervention.
- Documentation of clinical reasoning is key.
- Reporting applies only to induced terminations under the statute.
Know a pregnant woman in Texas?
What happens in Texas if a pregnant woman needs life-saving medical care?
The Life of the Mother Act: What exactly is it?
The Life of the Mother Act is a Texas law passed in 2025. It clarifies that:
- Doctors do not have to hesitate to terminate a pregnancy if a mom is having a medical emergency.
- Protections exist for pregnant women and doctors so care is not delayed or denied in a medical emergency.
- Texas will educate doctors about legal abortion health care.
The bottom line is...
You deserve health care.
You don't have to hesitate.
And Texas law clarifies how you are protected.
You can read the entire Life of the Mother Act here.
What does that mean for a mom and her doctor?
The law makes clear how Texas doctors can treat pregnant women in serious medical emergencies, including performing a necessary abortion.
- A pregnant woman's doctor does not have to wait until her life is in immediate danger to act.
- Doctors do not have to delay care to protect the fetus if waiting puts the pregnant woman at higher risk.
- A pregnant woman's doctor is protected by law when using reasonable medical judgment.
- To prosecute a doctor, the state must prove no other reasonable doctor would have made the same choice.
- Texas requires all doctors who specialize in caring for pregnant women to learn about the Life of the Mother Act.
- Elective abortion is still illegal in Texas.
simply put: If your health is in serious danger, your doctor can terminate a pregnancy.
What Counts as a Medical Emergency?
To determine if a pregnant woman is having a medical emergency under Texas law, her doctor should think about two main questions:
Does the patient have a physical health problem that is possibly fatal and (i) could result in her death or (ii) put her at serious risk of substantial harm to a major bodily function (such as her heart, lungs, or kidneys)?
Will terminating the pregnancy reduce or prevent either of those risks?
If a physician answers “yes” to both questions, then an abortion is legally allowed.
The law does NOT require your condition to become worse or for serious harm or death to be imminent before care is given.
What kind of pregnancy-related care is always legal in Texas?
The following treatments are always allowed:
Removal of an ectopic pregnancy
(these are typically pregnancies growing outside the womb that will not survive)
Miscarriage care
Birth control and emergency contraception
Delivery to save a baby's life
Treatment for cancer, appendicitis, heart problems, or other medical emergencies
Removal of pregnancy tissue after a loss
If a pregnancy ends by accident or by medically necessary termination during these or any other treatments, Texas law does not consider it an illegal abortion.
Note: Watching and waiting for your symptoms to change is always an option when managing a pregnancy-related health problem with your doctor.
What about the cases that don't qualify in Texas?
Texas law clarifies that these situations alone do not allow for a legal medical termination of a pregnancy:
- Fetal anomaly
- Rape or incest
- Mental health concerns
- Elective abortion
However: If a medical emergency develops in addition to the situations listed above, the exception to the law applies.
What does a pregnant woman do if she's having trouble getting help for any reason?
If you're pregnant and in a medical emergency but not getting the help you need, you can:
Ask your doctor to explain their reasons for not acting.
Request additional opinions from other health care professionals.
Ask for transfer to another facility.
You deserve timely, appropriate medical care.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Medical emergency” means your physical health problem is potentially life-threatening and could cause serious harm or death if not treated.
Texas’ many abortion prohibitions do not apply to a pregnant woman who ends, or tries to end, her own pregnancy. While there are other Texas criminal laws that might apply in some cases, no woman has been successfully prosecuted for ending her own pregnancy in Texas since the abortion prohibitions took effect. Remember that anyone who helps you have an elective abortion in Texas can be sued or prosecuted with serious legal consequences.
Your doctor is protected when they use reasonable medical judgment to give a medically necessary abortion. Texas must prove that no other reasonable doctor would have acted the same way in a medical emergency before taking action against your doctor. However, anyone who helps you have an elective abortion in Texas can be sued or prosecuted with serious legal consequences.
If you are pregnant in Texas, seek care in a medical emergency. While Texas has strict prohibitions on elective abortion, the Life of the Mother Act is clear that those laws do not prevent doctors from performing a necessary termination for you during emergency pregnancy complications. In addition, you cannot be prosecuted for seeking the care you need while pregnant.
Even if your pregnancy is viable, you still have the right to choose the safest treatment for your health or choose how you want to balance the risk between your health and your pregnancy. Doctors do not have to delay care to protect the fetus if waiting puts you at higher risk. No one can force you into a riskier option, such as a C-section. Talk with your doctor about the best course of action for you.
Some doctors may still worry about legal consequences even though they are taught the law. If you are having a medical emergency, you have the right to safe, timely medical care in Texas. You can ask your doctor to explain their decision, request another opinion, or ask to be transferred to a different facility.
Seek help from a medical professional if you are having complications from a self-managed abortion. Texas’ many abortion prohibitions do not apply to a pregnant woman who ends, or tries to end, her own pregnancy. While there are other Texas criminal laws that might apply in some cases, no woman has been successfully prosecuted for ending her own pregnancy in Texas since the abortion prohibitions took effect. Remember that anyone who helps you have an elective abortion in Texas can be sued or prosecuted with serious legal consequences.
Doctors and Care Teams: This Is for You
The Life of the Mother Act clarifies:
- Reasonable medical judgment does not require medical certainty.
- Physicians do not need unanimous agreement from peers.
- A pregnant woman is not required to be facing imminent death or to experience the effects of any physical health risk before she receives medical intervention.
- Documentation of clinical reasoning is key.
- Reporting applies only to induced terminations under the statute.
Know a pregnant woman in Texas?
What happens in Texas if a pregnant woman needs life-saving medical care?
The Life of the Mother Act: What exactly is it?
The Life of the Mother Act is a Texas law passed in 2025. It clarifies that:
- Doctors do not have to hesitate to terminate a pregnancy if a mom is having a medical emergency.
- Protections exist for pregnant women and doctors so care is not delayed or denied in a medical emergency.
- Texas will educate doctors about legal abortion health care.
The bottom line is...
You deserve health care.
You don't have to hesitate.
And Texas law clarifies how you are protected.
You can read the entire Life of the Mother Act here.What does that mean for a mom and her doctor?
The law makes clear how Texas doctors can treat pregnant women in serious medical emergencies, including performing a necessary abortion.
- A pregnant woman's doctor does not have to wait until her life is in immediate danger to act.
- Doctors do not have to delay care to protect the fetus if waiting puts the pregnant woman at higher risk.
- A pregnant woman's doctor is protected by law when using reasonable medical judgment.
- To prosecute a doctor, the state must prove no other reasonable doctor would have made the same choice.
- Texas requires all doctors who specialize in caring for pregnant women to learn about the Life of the Mother Act.
- Elective abortion is still illegal in Texas.
simply put: If your health is in serious danger, your doctor can terminate a pregnancy.
What Counts as a Medical Emergency?
To determine if a pregnant woman is having a medical emergency under Texas law, her doctor should think about two main questions:
Does the patient have a physical health problem that is possibly fatal and (i) could result in her death or (ii) put her at serious risk of substantial harm to a major bodily function (such as her heart, lungs, or kidneys)?
Will terminating the pregnancy reduce or prevent either of those risks?
If a physician answers “yes” to both questions, then an abortion is legally allowed.
The law does NOT require your condition to become worse or for serious harm or death to be imminent before care is given.
What kind of pregnancy-related care is always legal in Texas?
The following treatments are always allowed:
Removal of an ectopic pregnancy
(these are typically pregnancies growing outside the womb that will not survive)
Miscarriage care
Birth control and emergency contraception
Delivery to save a baby's life
Treatment for cancer, appendicitis, heart problems, or other medical emergencies
Removal of pregnancy tissue after a loss
If a pregnancy ends by accident or by medically necessary termination during these or any other treatments, Texas law does not consider it an illegal abortion.
Note: Watching and waiting for your symptoms to change is always an option when managing a pregnancy-related health problem with your doctor.
What about the cases that don't qualify in Texas?
Texas law clarifies that these situations alone do not allow for a legal medical termination of a pregnancy:
- Fetal anomaly
- Rape or incest
- Mental health concerns
- Elective abortion
However: If a medical emergency develops in addition to the situations listed above, the exception to the law applies.
What does a pregnant woman do if she's having trouble getting help for any reason?
If you're pregnant and in a medical emergency but not getting the help you need, you can:
Ask your doctor to explain their reasons for not acting.
Request additional opinions from other health care professionals.
Ask for transfer to another facility.
You deserve timely, appropriate medical care.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Medical emergency” means your physical health problem is potentially life-threatening and could cause serious harm or death if not treated.
Texas’ many abortion prohibitions do not apply to a pregnant woman who ends, or tries to end, her own pregnancy. While there are other Texas criminal laws that might apply in some cases, no woman has been successfully prosecuted for ending her own pregnancy in Texas since the abortion prohibitions took effect. Remember that anyone who helps you have an elective abortion in Texas can be sued or prosecuted with serious legal consequences.
Your doctor is protected when they use reasonable medical judgment to give a medically necessary abortion. Texas must prove that no other reasonable doctor would have acted the same way in a medical emergency before taking action against your doctor. However, anyone who helps you have an elective abortion in Texas can be sued or prosecuted with serious legal consequences.
If you are pregnant in Texas, seek care in a medical emergency. While Texas has strict prohibitions on elective abortion, the Life of the Mother Act is clear that those laws do not prevent doctors from performing a necessary termination for you during emergency pregnancy complications. In addition, you cannot be prosecuted for seeking the care you need while pregnant.
Even if your pregnancy is viable, you still have the right to choose the safest treatment for your health or choose how you want to balance the risk between your health and your pregnancy. Doctors do not have to delay care to protect the fetus if waiting puts you at higher risk. No one can force you into a riskier option, such as a C-section. Talk with your doctor about the best course of action for you.
Some doctors may still worry about legal consequences even though they are taught the law. If you are having a medical emergency, you have the right to safe, timely medical care in Texas. You can ask your doctor to explain their decision, request another opinion, or ask to be transferred to a different facility.
Seek help from a medical professional if you are having complications from a self-managed abortion. Texas’ many abortion prohibitions do not apply to a pregnant woman who ends, or tries to end, her own pregnancy. While there are other Texas criminal laws that might apply in some cases, no woman has been successfully prosecuted for ending her own pregnancy in Texas since the abortion prohibitions took effect. Remember that anyone who helps you have an elective abortion in Texas can be sued or prosecuted with serious legal consequences.
Doctors and Care Teams: This Is for You
The Life of the Mother Act clarifies:
- Reasonable medical judgment does not require medical certainty.
- Physicians do not need unanimous agreement from peers.
- A pregnant woman is not required to be facing imminent death or to experience the effects of any physical health risk before she receives medical intervention.
- Documentation of clinical reasoning is key.
- Reporting applies only to induced terminations under the statute.