Texas records just 17 abortions in four months in likely vast undercount

Experts say official data obscures scale of emergencies and underscores how little is known about abortion in states with bans

If you're a pregnant person in Texas and you find yourself facing a medical emergency, you are legally able to have an abortion. At least, that's what the law says.

But the Texas Health and Human Services Commission recorded only 17 legal abortions in the first four months of 2023, according to a new report by the agency. All the procedures were performed due to medical emergency" and to preserve [the] health of [the pregnant] woman".