Texas women accuse hospitals of denying necessary care for life-threatening pregnancies

DALLAS – An Arlington hospital is named in one of two federal lawsuits filed by Texas women who say they were denied necessary care for their failed pregnancies. Both women say they suffered life-changing injuries as a result.

Kyleigh Thurman, 25, is one of two Texas women who filed a federal complaint alleging her hospitals failed to provide her with the medical care she needed for a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, ultimately compromising her future fertility and reproductive health.

“It is unacceptable that my symptoms and my pain are dismissed,” she said.

Thurman’s claim is against Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital outside Austin.

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The Center for Reproductive Rights represents women.

“And to our knowledge, these are the first complaints of their kind that have been filed since Roe was overturned on behalf of patients who were denied medical care for ectopic pregnancies,” said Molly Duane, an attorney for the organization.

The Center for Reproductive Rights believes the Texas abortion ban is creating confusion for some doctors and health systems about what they can and cannot treat when pregnancies are in danger.

“We’re talking about medical providers who face the most extreme penalties: life in prison and loss of their medical license,” Duane said. “So yes, they are afraid to provide medical care.”

Ectopic pregnancies cannot be carried to term because the fertilized egg grows outside the uterus. Untreated ectopic pregnancies can cause life-threatening bleeding.

“It is a fact that federal law requires hospitals like the ones where they were treated to provide stabilizing medical care to all patients with medical emergencies, even if that care involves an abortion,” Duane said.

Texas law, however, allows doctors to treat ectopic pregnancies. The pro-life group Texans for Life Coalition supports that idea.

“There’s no other way to preserve her life, and there’s no way to save that baby. So it’s not an issue,” said Kyleen Wright, president of the pro-life organization. “I don’t know of any organization that would support asking her to sacrifice her life for a non-viable baby.

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Wright was with Gov. Greg Abbott in 2023 when he signed House Bill 3058, which allows health care providers to use “reasonable medical judgment” in treating an ectopic pregnancy.

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“We did exactly what the doctors and hospital groups asked us to do with respect to that legislation,” he said. “So I don’t think there’s any confusion about that.”

Federal complaints have been filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is unclear when the investigation will be completed.

“I know something bad happened to me. I know my rights were violated,” Thurman said.

FOX 4 reached out to Texas Health Arlington Memorial for comment but has not heard back.

Ascension Seton Williamson declined to comment on Thurman’s case but said in a statement that it is “committed to providing high-quality care to all who seek our services.”