Ken Paxton Says Abortions Give Two to Three Women Per Week Major Complications. Is That True?

Our weekly check-in with the Texas Truth-O-Meter.

By Alain StephensMarch 9, 2016 10:49 am,

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says that weekly, two to three abortion-seeking women in the state have major complications, and 10 such women have to go to an emergency room after the procedure. That’s a pretty upsetting claim.

But is that a fact? Gardner Selby of the Politifact Texas fact-checking team has the answer.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, a landmark abortion case that will decide the fate of Texas’ 2013 abortion law, known as House Bill 2. The law, among other things, requires abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and requires abortion clinics to comply with the state-set standards for ambulatory surgical centers.

Before the case went in front of the Supreme Court, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton prepared to defend the law. In a Feb. 5, 2016, press release, his office highlighted that the court received “more than 30” amicus briefs in support of the law.

“Statistics show 2 to 3 Texas women per week have major complications and 10 women per week seek help at an ER after an abortion,” the release said. “Texas believes abortion facilities have no special privilege to operate outside the parameters of the medical profession and it is the right and responsibility of the state to ensure the safety of patients.”

Hear how Paxton’s claim scored in the player above.