AUSTIN, Texas – When asked about the tragic, preventable death of Houston’s Josseli Barnica due to the Texas abortion ban, Ted Cruz doubled down on his support for the ban he called “perfectly reasonable” weeks after Barnica died.

Cruz wrongly claimed that “Texas law makes clear that any procedure that is necessary to save the life of a mother can be done and should be done.”

But the doctors whose job it is to treat women confirm Cruz’s defense of the Texas abortion ban is just wrong.

• “‘If this was Massachusetts or Ohio, [Barnica] would have had that delivery within a couple hours,’ said Dr. Susan Mann, a national patient safety expert in obstetric care”

• “‘We know that the sooner you intervene in these situations, the better outcomes are,’ said Dr. Steven Porter, an OB-GYN”

• “Dr. Anitra Beasley, a Houston OB-GYN, said she and other doctors bring the fear of criminalization into the room with the patient”

• “Politicians like Ted Cruz, who have no medical training or expertise whatsoever, are interfering with how Texas physicians practice medicine,” said Dr. Christina Propst, a Houston OB-GYN.

• “‘How can a physician feel protected enough to provide good medical care when the ultimate decision is going to be made by the court, and they may not support the physician?’ said Dr. Todd Ivey, a Houston OB/GYN”

• “We've found that maternal mortality is going up. We've found that infant mortality is going up. These are all the result of the abortion ban that Ted Cruz was instrumental in putting in place,” said Dr. Damla Karsan, MD, Houston-based OB-GYN and Kate Cox’s physician.

• The Texas Tribune reports that “Almost one-third of OB-GYNs in Texas do not have a clear understanding of the law” and “60% are fearful of legal repercussions.”

• One OB-GYN said “Patients don’t want a confused doctor,” and others have called the Texas Medical Board’s guidance on the ban “dangerously unclear.”

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