DALLAS – An Arlington hospital is mentioned in one of two federal complaints filed by Texas women who say they were denied necessary care for their failed pregnancies. Both women say they suffered life-altering injuries as a result.
Kyleigh Thurman, 25, is one of two Texas women filing a complaint in federal court claiming her hospitals failed to provide her with necessary medical care during a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, ultimately affecting her future fertility and reproductive health.
“It is unacceptable that my symptoms and pain are ignored,” she said.
Thurman’s lawsuit is against Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital outside Austin.
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The Center for Reproductive Rights represents the women.
“And to our knowledge, these are the first complaints of this kind filed since Roe was overturned on behalf of patients who were denied treatment for ectopic pregnancies,” said Molly Duane, an attorney for the organization.
The Center for Reproductive Rights believes that Texas’s abortion ban is causing confusion among some doctors and the health care system about what they can and cannot treat when a pregnancy is at risk.
“We’re talking about medical professionals who face the worst possible penalties: life imprisonment and loss of their license to practice,” Duane said. “Yes, they are terrified of providing 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.
“The fact is that federal law requires hospitals like the one where they were treated to provide stabilizing medical care to all patients with medical emergencies, even if that emergency involves an abortion,” Duane said.
However, Texas law allows doctors to treat ectopic pregnancies, a move supported by the pro-life group Texans for Life Coalition.
“There is no other way to preserve her life and there is no way to save the baby. So that’s not a question,” 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 nonviable baby.”
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Wright supported Governor Greg Abbott in 2023 when he signed House Bill 3058, which allows health care providers to use “reasonable medical judgment” when treating an ectopic pregnancy.
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“We’ve done exactly what the doctors and hospital associations have asked us to do in this legislation,” she said. “So I don’t think there’s any confusion about that.”
The federal complaints are 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 we have not received a response.
Ascension Seton Williamson declined to comment on Thurman’s case, but said in a statement that it is “committed to providing quality care to all who use our services.”
