TX abortion vigilantes

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

The state of TX has a new law that provides for anybody to get a $10,000 bounty by suing any person discussing or assisting a woman in any way to have an abortion after six weeks, I.e., before many women even know they are pregnant. The burden is on the person sued to deny it, and if they win they cannot recover their legal costs. This means a driver, a friend to whom a woman confided, someone who bought her a bus ticket, a vindictive ex, clergy, a clinic receptionist, a neighbor you don’t like, a competitor, a restaurant where you didn’t like the service, a ref whose call you didn’t like … all open to being sued by anyone, and the burden on them to refute. Your rapist could impregnate you and then sue you. There are no exceptions for incest, pregnant children, or rape. There are obvious constitutional difficulties with this, information on which can be found in many sources. The SCOTUS declined to block it for the nonce, but have NOT invalidated Roe v Wade and are awaiting further suits.

A private group has put up a website where anonymous people can report any “suspicious” cases, which they will then refer to authorities…and I’ll bet they’ll expect to get the ten grand for every one. It is presently being flooded by fake reports, many hilarious. It’s taken off on Tik-Tok and Twitter at pic.Twitter.com/xgpvESdc5b  If you’d like to join the fun, you can. Goto https://prolifewhistleblower.com/ and let your creativity flower as often as you like. 

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

Thank you for starting this discussion.  This is out of bounds.  How dangerous will this become as the ignorantly angry "conservatives" become vigilantes for the government.  They will be our own version of brown shirts...seeking out and harassing poor women about their reproductive health choices.  

The GOP is unamerican in it's intentions at this point in time. 

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

“the state is trying to delegate to private citizens a "right" or power it does not itself possess, to violate the constitutional rights of others”

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

President Biden’s immediate response:84B7E20D-EE25-4F93-B0E0-E0F1900B8689.thumb.jpeg.6d38cb894f974e6b168e9db467b35c35.jpeg

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

The crowd shouting about their "rights" and "freedoms" right now are supporting political agendas which ignore rights and freedoms of women and people of color.  It's a step toward a version of the fictional Gilead.

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1 hour ago, Hannahbanana said:

... all open to being sued by anyone, and the burden on them to refute. ...

As I understand it, the burden of proof is still on the plaintiff, not dependent.

Quote

[...]

“There’s going to be a lot of different (fact) patterns that could lead to the case,” he [John Seago, with Texas Right to Life] said. But the bill isn’t “throwing out the typical way that the judicial system works — there's still going to be a judge, there's still going to be depositions, there's going to be a high bar” before fees are awarded.

[...]

 

2 hours ago, Hannahbanana said:

... Your rapist could impregnate you and then sue you. ...

Again, not my understanding.

Quote

[...]

The bill does not allow rapists to sue, but abortion rights advocates say the wording offers flimsy protection as most rapes and sexual assaults aren’t reported and don’t result in a conviction.

[...]

 

2 hours ago, Hannahbanana said:

... TX has put up a website where anonymous people can report any “suspicious” cases. ...

Actually, the website was created by Texas Right to Life.

Quote

[...]

But Seago and Texas Right to Life, the biggest anti-abortion organization in the state, do plan to start suing those they believe violate SB 8. The organization has even set up a whistleblower website, where anyone can file anonymous tips about illegal abortions.

[...]

 

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Specializes in Public Health, TB.
55 minutes ago, Hannahbanana said:

“the state is trying to delegate to private citizens a "right" or power it does not itself possess, to violate the constitutional rights of others”

In an interview this morning on NPR with Nina Totenberg, she pointed out that this could set precedent to allow citizens to enforce other laws, such as firearm possession. Or women reading books. 

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
4 minutes ago, nursej22 said:

In an interview this morning on NPR with Nina Totenberg, she pointed out that this could set precedent to allow citizens to enforce other laws, such as firearm possession. Or women reading books. 

If only there was some historical precedent that we could learn from...

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
16 minutes ago, chare said:

As I understand it, the burden of proof is still on the plaintiff, not dependent.

 

Again, not my understanding.

 

Actually, the website was created by Texas Right to Life.

 

What prevents the rapist or sexual abuser from suing the pregnant female?

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Specializes in MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP, CEN, CCRN, TCRN, EMT-P.

It should be more than just a fine.  Assisting in murder in any way should come with criminal charges.  Don't know how any healthcare professional could be against saving babies from being murdered,  

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3 minutes ago, toomuchbaloney said:

What prevents the rapist or sexual abuser from suing the pregnant female?

Ms. Najmabadi is the women's health reporter for the Texas Tribune.  As she included this in the article, I presume that the statement is factual?

Do you have information to the contrary?

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