**Texas Sees 56% Increase in Maternal Mortality Following Abortion Ban**

A year after the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022, Texas has emerged as one of the 22 states imposing stringent abortion bans. The banned procedures include cases arising from incest or rape, save only for scenarios where the mother faces a fatal threat or severe disability risks.

In the wake of this significant legal shift, Texas has experienced a dramatic 56 percent surge in its maternal mortality rate, raising concerns among healthcare professionals and women’s rights advocates. The penalties for performing abortions outside the narrowly defined exemptions are severe, with doctors facing up to 99 years in prison, $100,000 in fines, and the loss of their medical licenses.

With legal avenues for abortion severely restricted, many Texan women have turned to illicit means. They resort to acquiring abortion pills via mail or enduring challenging and costly journeys to states where abortion remains accessible.

The report from FRANCE 24's Valérie Defert and Pierrick Leurent underscores Texas as a symbol of the broader national landscape post-Roe, illustrating the profound impacts of the Supreme Court's landmark decision.