The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday (Oct 7) reinstated a law that prohibits abortions in pregnancies over six weeks.&nbsp;

This comes just a week after the six-week abortion ban was struck down by a lower court. At the time, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled that Georgia's so-called "heartbeat" abortion law was unconstitutional.

"Liberty in Georgia includes... the power of a woman to control her own body, to decide what happens to it and in it, and to reject state interference with her healthcare choices."

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"That power is not, however, unlimited," he added. “When a fetus growing inside a woman reaches viability, when society can assume care and responsibility for that separate life, then — and only then — may society intervene,”&nbsp;said the judge.

With this ruling, the state would have once again allowed abortions up until fetal viability — around 22 weeks of pregnancy.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:279,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1969}">How was the ruling overturned?</h2>

The ruling has not been overturned, rather it is on hold. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, a Republican, has appealed the lower court ruling. On Monday, Georgia Supreme Court put the ruling on hold while the appeal is being heard.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwj-j8yumP6IAxW_4zgGHY4oBBsQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pregnant-women-in-texas-facing-terrifying-health-crisis-maternal-deaths-surge-56-after-abortion-ban-study-761604" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/pregnant-women-in-texas-facing-terrifying-health-crisis-maternal-deaths-surge-56-after-abortion-ban-study-761604&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj-j8yumP6IAxW_4zgGHY4oBBsQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Pregnant women in Texas facing ‘terrifying’ health crisis; maternal deaths surge 56% after abortion ban: Study</a>

Meanwhile, the US Supreme Court upheld a conservative lower court's ruling that hospitals in Texas are not obligated to perform emergency abortions under federal law.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:424,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2114}">White House slams decision</h2>

The US White House has voiced its opposition to the Georgia and Texas decisions.

In a statement, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the Supreme Court decision "means that women in Texas could still be denied critical emergency medical care because of the state's dangerous and extreme abortion bans".

"The stories we hear of women being denied care they need in emergency situations is completely unacceptable," she said.

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<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:619,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2309}">The Georgia abortion ban</h2>

In Georgia, the law, known as the Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act, bans abortions after an embryo's cardiac activity can be detected. This is usually around six weeks when most women don't even realise they are pregnant.

The law was passed by Georgia's Republican-dominated state legislature in 2019 and went into effect in 2022 after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade — the nationwide right to abortion.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday (Oct 7) reinstated a law that prohibits abortions in pregnancies over six weeks. This comes just a week after the six-week abortion ban was struck down by a lower court.

The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday (Oct 7) reinstated a law that prohibits abortions in pregnancies over six weeks. This comes just a week after the six-week abortion ban was struck down by a lower court. At the time, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled that Georgia's so-called "heartbeat" abortion law was unconstitutional. "Liberty in Georgia includes... the power of a woman to control her own body, to decide what happens to it and in it, and to reject state interference with her healthcare choices." Also read | Georgia judge overturns US state's abortion ban, calls abortion law 'unconstitutional' "That power is not, however, unlimited," he added. “When a fetus growing inside a woman reaches viability, when society can assume care and responsibility for that separate life, then — and only then — may society intervene,” said the judge. With this ruling, the state would have once again allowed abortions up until fetal viability — around 22 weeks of pregnancy. How was the ruling overturned? The ruling has not been overturned, rather it is on hold. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, a Republican, has appealed the lower court ruling. On Monday, Georgia Supreme Court put the ruling on hold while the appeal is being heard. Also read | Pregnant women in Texas facing ‘terrifying’ health crisis; maternal deaths surge 56% after abortion ban: Study Meanwhile, the US Supreme Court upheld a conservative lower court's ruling that hospitals in Texas are not obligated to perform emergency abortions under federal law. White House slams decision The US White House has voiced its opposition to the Georgia and Texas decisions. In a statement, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the Supreme Court decision "means that women in Texas could still be denied critical emergency medical care because of the state's dangerous and extreme abortion bans". "The stories we hear of women being denied care they need in emergency situations is completely unacceptable," she said. Also read | US Supreme Court rejects Biden's bid to enforce emergency abortions in Texas The Georgia abortion ban In Georgia, the law, known as the Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act, bans abortions after an embryo's cardiac activity can be detected. This is usually around six weeks when most women don't even realise they are pregnant. The law was passed by Georgia's Republican-dominated state legislature in 2019 and went into effect in 2022 after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade — the nationwide right to abortion. (With inputs from agencies)

Georgia supreme court restores six-week 'heartbeat' abortion ban; White House slams decision

In the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v Wade, maternal deaths in Texas have surged, especially since the state's strict abortion ban in 2021. According to a new study by the Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI), the state witnessed a 56 per cent rise in cases of maternal mortality between 2019 and 2022.

This stark increase is over five times the national rise over the same period — 11 per cent, as per an analysis of federal public health data.&nbsp;

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Experts point out that "there's only one explanation for this staggering difference in maternal mortality."

"All the research points to Texas’ abortion ban as the primary driver of this alarming increase," said Nancy L. Cohen, president of the GEPI.

"Texas, I fear, is a harbinger of what's to come in other states," she warned.

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In Texas, the law, known as Senate Bill 8 (SB 8), bans abortions as early as five weeks into pregnancy; the only exception is to save the life of the mother.

Following its enactment, the spike in maternal deaths was observed across all racial groups. Mortality rates for Hispanic women climbed from 14.5 to 18.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, while for white women, the numbers nearly doubled, from 20 to 39.1. Black women, already at a higher risk, saw the maternal death rate increase from 31.6 to 43.6 per 100,000 live births.

GEPI president Nancy L. Cohen described the findings as a clear warning sign of the dangers tied to limiting abortion access.&nbsp;

"If you deny women abortions, more women are going to be pregnant, and more women are going to be forced to carry a pregnancy to term," said Cohen.

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According to an NBC News report, beyond the immediate risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, women in Texas have increasingly struggled to access prenatal care, exacerbating fears and creating more health risks for mothers-to-be.

Doctors, like Austin-based OB-GYN Dr. Leah Tatum, have reported a rise in sterilisation requests as women face anxiety about the consequences of unintended pregnancies under SB 8.&nbsp;

"Fear is something I’d never seen in practice prior to Senate Bill 8," said Dr Tatum, who was not involved in the GEPI study.

Many patients, she said, "feel like they're backed into a corner".

"If they already knew that they didn't want to pursue pregnancy, now they're terrified."

Others who want kids fear that they won't have the medical option to end a pregnancy even in cases where severe fetal abnormalities are discovered, said Tatum.&nbsp;

In one tragic case, a woman named Kaitlyn Kash was forced to travel to Kansas for an abortion after her foetus was diagnosed with a fatal condition. Due to the Texas ban, she was unable to terminate her pregnancy locally and had to endure the ordeal of being treated like a "criminal" during an already painful time.

"I was being treated like a criminal…I didn't get the dignity that I deserved to say goodbye to my child," said Kash.

"These patients are asking for help. The state of Texas has failed women," stated Dr Tatum.

(With inputs from agencies)

In the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v Wade, maternal deaths in Texas have surged, especially since the state's strict abortion ban in 2021. According to a new study by the Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI), the state witnessed a 56 per cent rise in cases of maternal mortality between 2019 and 2022.

In the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v Wade, maternal deaths in Texas have surged, especially since the state's strict abortion ban in 2021. According to a new study by the Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI), the state witnessed a 56 per cent rise in cases of maternal mortality between 2019 and 2022. This stark increase is over five times the national rise over the same period — 11 per cent, as per an analysis of federal public health data. What's the reason? Experts point out that "there's only one explanation for this staggering difference in maternal mortality." "All the research points to Texas’ abortion ban as the primary driver of this alarming increase," said Nancy L. Cohen, president of the GEPI. "Texas, I fear, is a harbinger of what's to come in other states," she warned. Also read | Man digs up uncle's grave, steals bones, extorts family to pay off debt Texas abortion ban In Texas, the law, known as Senate Bill 8 (SB 8), bans abortions as early as five weeks into pregnancy; the only exception is to save the life of the mother. Following its enactment, the spike in maternal deaths was observed across all racial groups. Mortality rates for Hispanic women climbed from 14.5 to 18.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, while for white women, the numbers nearly doubled, from 20 to 39.1. Black women, already at a higher risk, saw the maternal death rate increase from 31.6 to 43.6 per 100,000 live births. GEPI president Nancy L. Cohen described the findings as a clear warning sign of the dangers tied to limiting abortion access. "If you deny women abortions, more women are going to be pregnant, and more women are going to be forced to carry a pregnancy to term," said Cohen. Also read | Trump accuses ‘great salesman’ Zelensky of favouring Democrats to win presidential polls According to an NBC News report, beyond the immediate risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, women in Texas have increasingly struggled to access prenatal care, exacerbating fears and creating more health risks for mothers-to-be. Doctors, like Austin-based OB-GYN Dr. Leah Tatum, have reported a rise in sterilisation requests as women face anxiety about the consequences of unintended pregnancies under SB 8. "Fear is something I’d never seen in practice prior to Senate Bill 8," said Dr Tatum, who was not involved in the GEPI study. Many patients, she said, "feel like they're backed into a corner". "If they already knew that they didn't want to pursue pregnancy, now they're terrified." Others who want kids fear that they won't have the medical option to end a pregnancy even in cases where severe fetal abnormalities are discovered, said Tatum. In one tragic case, a woman named Kaitlyn Kash was forced to travel to Kansas for an abortion after her foetus was diagnosed with a fatal condition. Due to the Texas ban, she was unable to terminate her pregnancy locally and had to endure the ordeal of being treated like a "criminal" during an already painful time. "I was being treated like a criminal…I didn't get the dignity that I deserved to say goodbye to my child," said Kash. "These patients are asking for help. The state of Texas has failed women," stated Dr Tatum. (With inputs from agencies)

Pregnant women in Texas facing ‘terrifying’ health crisis; maternal deaths surge 56% after abortion ban: Study

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