Texas Lawsuit Sheds Light on Maternal Sepsis Risk

Did you know that sepsis is the second leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the United States? The U.S. has some of the highest maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the industrialized world, with maternal sepsis – which can develop from any infection that occurs during pregnancy, delivery, or the postpartum period, or after miscarriage or abortion – complicating an estimated 10 cases per 10,000 live births. 

When pregnant people cannot access safe maternity care services, including abortions, these problems worsen.  

Five women are making national headlines right now for their joint lawsuit in the state of Texas. They claim that despite grave risks to their own lives and/or the lives of their fetuses, they were each denied abortions in the state. 

One of the plaintiffs, Amanda Zurawski, experienced maternal sepsis as part of her medical ordeal.  

During her pregnancy, Amanda learned that her fetus had become unviable and would not be able to survive. According to her doctors, the safest thing for Amanda’s life was an abortion.  

Because Texas allows abortions only when there is “substantial” harm present, Amanda was told that she wasn’t sick enough at that point to qualify for the procedure under the law. Without quick access to necessary medical care, she went into septic shock and nearly died. Thankfully, Amanda did not die from the ordeal, but she is now a sepsis survivor facing many after-effects. She was left with so much scar tissue in her uterus that she had to undergo surgery to remove it.

This news story sheds light on the increased maternal sepsis risk that occurs when access to maternity care services is severely limited or absent. Improving outcomes for pregnant people continues to be a top priority for Sepsis Alliance, as we work towards a world in which no one is harmed by sepsis. 

Learn more about maternal sepsis by clicking here. Learn more about increased maternal sepsis risk as a result of restricted abortion access here.