A Tennessee woman who needed an abortion to save her life has joined a lawsuit against the state's restrictive ban, but the trial has been halted indefinitely by a last-minute appeal.
Rachel Fulton, a mother of one, was devastated when a 12-week scan revealed her fetus had cystic hygroma, a fatal condition that also endangered her life. Doctors told her she could travel out of state for care, wait until she was in mortal danger, or wait for the fetus to die before receiving treatment in Tennessee.
Fulton drove hours to Illinois for the procedure, leaving her feeling a callous disregard for her life. She joined the Center for Reproductive Rights' lawsuit in 2023, along with five other patients, the American Medical Association, and two doctors, arguing the ban violates their right to life.
Lead attorney Linda Goldstein said the case shows how abortion bans endanger women's health, even with supposed exceptions. The state's appeal, filed just before the trial, aims to prevent these women from telling their stories in court, Goldstein added.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti stated that appealing an appealable order is routine and that the state is prepared for trial if necessary. Fulton and the plaintiffs vow to fight the delay, hoping to prevent other families from enduring similar pain.
