In Texas, abortions are now banned after about six weeks into a pregnancy, or when a fetal heartbeat can be detected, because of a new partisan law that took effect at the beginning of September.
The Republican-sponsored bill, known as "The Texas Heartbeat Act" was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) on May 19.
"Our creator endowed us with the right to life, and yet millions of children lose their right to life every year because of abortion," Abbott said in a video he shared on Twitter from the bill signing ceremony. "In Texas, we worked to save those lives and that's exactly what the Texas legislature did this session."
According to LegiScan, Senate Bill 8, or the Texas Heartbeat Bill, relates "to abortion, including abortions after detection of an unborn child's heartbeat; authorizing a private civil right of action." It went into effect on Sept. 1.
"No freedom is more precious than life itself," Abbott wrote in a tweet the day the law went into effect. "Starting today, every unborn child with a heartbeat will be protected from the ravages of abortion. Texas will always defend the right to life."
Dr. Bhavik Kumar works for Planned Parenthood in Houston. Kumar told NPR he will abide by the new law, but there it has created "uncertainty" for both medical providers and patients in the state.
"I know that there are many people who don't have to ability to make it out of state," Kumar told NPR. "The logistics and the ability to do so is not an option for them. So, I'm really concerned about what's going to happen to people."
NPR also reported that the law would give private citizens the ability to file lawsuits against abortion providers and anyone else who helps a woman receive an abortion. That includes anyone who gave the pregnant woman a ride to the clinic or helps pay for the procedure.
Those who succeed in suing an abortion provider could receive $10,000, according to NPR. There are several challenges to the law making their way through the courts.