Texas Debates the Rights of an Unborn Fetus: Examining Both Perspectives

**Texas Questions Legal Rights of “Unborn Child” in Lawsuit Defense**
The state of Texas is facing scrutiny over its argument regarding the legal rights of an “unborn child” in a lawsuit brought against prison officials. The lawsuit claims that the plaintiff, a prison guard, had a stillborn baby because she was not allowed to leave work for more than two hours after experiencing intense contractions. The Texas attorney general’s office is presenting an argument that appears to contradict its previous positions on the rights of unborn children.

**Texas’ Conflicting Stands on Abortion Restrictions**
The Texas attorney general’s office has previously argued before the U.S. Supreme Court that “unborn children” should be recognized as individuals with legal rights. However, in the current lawsuit, they are contending that an “unborn child” may not have rights under the U.S. Constitution. This contrasting position raises questions about the state’s stance on the legal status of unborn children.

**Governor Abbott’s Stand on Protecting Unborn Children**
Governor Greg Abbott and other Republican leaders in Texas have been vocal about protecting “every unborn child with a heartbeat.” They have hailed the state’s abortion ban as a measure to safeguard the lives of unborn children. The recent argument from the attorney general’s office seems to conflict with these statements, further adding to the controversy surrounding the case.

**Lack of Response from the Attorney General’s Office**
Despite inquiries regarding their argument, the Texas attorney general’s office has not provided a response. It is unclear why there is a discrepancy between their previous defense of the rights of unborn children and their current position. The office’s lack of response raises concerns about the consistency and coherence of their legal arguments.

**The Conflation of State Law and the Constitution**
In a legal filing, the state argued that the guard’s suit confuses how a fetus is treated under state law and the Constitution. While several Texas statutes define an individual to include an unborn child, the state contends that this does not necessarily mean that the Fourteenth Amendment grants the same recognition. The filing also noted that the guard lost her baby before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion established in the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.

**The Case of Salia Issa**
The lawsuit was filed by Salia Issa, a prison guard who experienced a pregnancy emergency while on duty. Issa claims that if she had been allowed to leave her post earlier, hospital staff could have saved her baby. However, her supervisors refused to relieve her and accused her of lying. According to the complaint, leaving a post before being relieved by another guard is grounds for termination in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s policy. Issa eventually made her way to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery.

**Seeking Justice and Compensation**
Salia Issa is seeking monetary damages in her lawsuit to cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, and funeral expenses for her unborn child. The state attorney general’s office and the prison system are requesting that the case be dismissed. However, U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower has recommended that the case proceed, at least in part, without addressing the arguments concerning the rights of the fetus.

**Texas’ Conflicting Positions on the Right to Life**
Legal expert Laura Hermer has characterized Texas’ legal posture as an attempt to have their cake and eat it too. She points out that the state claims to support the right to life of all fetuses but acts differently when it comes to protecting their health and safety. This contrast in approach, limited mainly to prohibiting abortions, raises questions about the state’s true commitment to the rights of unborn children.

In conclusion, Texas is facing criticism for its argument questioning the legal rights of an “unborn child” in a lawsuit defense. This argument appears to contradict the state’s previous positions on the recognition of unborn children as individuals with rights. Governor Greg Abbott’s support for protecting unborn children further compounds the controversy. The lack of response from the attorney general’s office and the confounding conflation of state law and constitutional rights raise concerns about the consistency of Texas’ legal arguments. The case brought by Salia Issa highlights the alleged mishandling of her pregnancy emergency by prison officials. She seeks justice and compensation, while the state attorney general’s office and prison system attempt to have the case dismissed. The conflicting positions taken by Texas on the right to life create further skepticism about the state’s true intentions regarding the rights and protection of unborn children.