A dismemberment abortion—also known as a dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortion—is an abortion in which a person dismembers and extracts the unborn child from the uterus through the use of clamps, grasping forceps, tongs, scissors, or a similar instrument. Some states have passed dismemberment abortion bans. These laws are usually located in a state’s statutes.
Laws vary from state to state and under some state laws the term dismemberment abortion does not include an abortion that uses suction to dismember the body of an unborn child by sucking pieces of the unborn child into a collection container. The term includes a dismemberment abortion that is used to cause the death of an unborn child and in which suction is subsequently used to extract pieces of the unborn child after the unborn child's death.
In Texas, a dismemberment abortion, also known as a dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortion, is subject to legal restrictions. Texas law specifically prohibits dismemberment abortions unless necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother. This type of abortion involves the use of instruments to dismember and extract the fetus from the uterus. The Texas statute defines 'dismemberment abortion' as an abortion method that intentionally dismembers the fetus within the uterus in order to facilitate its removal. The law does not consider procedures that use suction to dismember the fetus as dismemberment abortions unless the procedure is intended to cause the death of the fetus and is followed by the use of suction. It's important to note that legal challenges and court rulings can affect the enforceability of abortion laws, so the current status of these regulations may be subject to change based on ongoing legal proceedings.
