By: Meredith Aldis

Statistics show the year before Roe v. Wade was overturned, more than 50,000 abortions were performed legally in Texas. After the decision, 44 were performed due to medical emergency.

“Protection for unborn babies should continue. This includes babies with a disability or fatal diagnosis in utero,” Texas Alliance for Life Amy O’Donnell said.

MORE: Austin couple travels out of Texas to get ‘medically-necessary’ abortion

The lawsuit is asking the court to clarify Texas’ abortion laws, alleging the vague language leaves doctors unable or unwilling to administer abortion care, forcing patients to seek treatment out of state or wait until their lives are in danger.

“While there are technically medical exceptions to the bans, no one knows what it means and the state won’t tell us,” Center for Reproductive Rights Molly Duane said.

By: Meredith Aldis

“It’s really about protecting women,” Texas Alliance for Life Communications Director Amy O’Donnell said.

O’Donnell said banning mail-order abortion drugs in Texas ensures women are not put at risk.

“A woman cannot receive abortion inducing drugs without first seeing a physician who can ascertain how long her pregnancy is gestationally, whether a woman is RH negative, and if a woman has an ectopic pregnancy and receives those drugs in the mail, it can cost her life,” O’Donnell said.

The FDA states the use of Mifepristone in a regimen with Misoprostol is safe and effective for the medical termination of early pregnancy.

By: Carissa Lehmkuhl

Meanwhile, those in support of the law are grateful for the past eight days. “By our estimation, there are as many as 200 unborn babies’ lives who are saved every day that law is in effect,” said Dr. Joe Pojman, executive director of the Texas Alliance for Life.

A controversial and unique aspect of the law is that it allows any person to sue anyone who performs or aids in an abortion, something the DOJ says was designed to evade judicial review. However, Dr. Pojman said because of this provision, it’s unclear what the federal government’s role can or should be.

“Since there’s never been a law like this that has been created which allows citizens to enforce it, it’s not clear that the federal government is going to have a successful lawsuit; we’re going to have to see,” he said. “We’re kind of on new legal ground.”

By: FOX 7 Austin Digital Team

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Senate has passed seven bills aimed at restricting access to abortions in Texas.

“We need to protect that unborn child and the mother, and that’s the goal of what the legislature is doing this time,” said Dr. Joe Pojman, executive director for Texas Alliance for Life.

The Texas Senate has given the okay to seven House bills aimed at restricting, and possibly even banning, abortions in the state. These bills will be turned over to the House for approval, but for Dr. Pojman this is a win.

“I’ve been lobbying for more than 30 years; I never see a day like we’ve had in the Texas Senate. We need those safety regulations in place that protect a woman who’s having an abortion in Texas. Texas Alliance for Life, we’re a pro-life organization, we want to protect unborn babies,” he said.