Texas Woman Dies After Delayed Miscarriage Care

Josseli Barnica, a 28-year-old woman from Texas, died after doctors delayed treatment for her miscarriage due to the state's strict abortion laws, which prohibit intervention if a fetal heartbeat is detected. On September 3, 2021, Barnica, who was 17 weeks pregnant, was told her miscarriage was 'in progress,' yet medical staff were legally unable to assist until the fetal heartbeat ceased, leading to a deadly infection. Her case highlights the legal ambiguity and fear of prosecution faced by doctors under Texas's abortion ban, which has led to detrimental delays in medical care. More than a dozen medical experts condemned her death as 'preventable,' criticizing the law's impact on timely medical intervention. Barnica is one of several women who have suffered under similar circumstances since the implementation of these laws, which have been increasingly restrictive since the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. Her story underscores the ongoing debate and challenges surrounding abortion laws and women's healthcare rights in the United States.