Another worst case abortion rights scenario is happening right now in Texas.

A woman’s fetus is diagnosed with a genetic illness that causes birth defects so severe it is not going to survive, and carrying the fetus to term could also cause the death of the mother, Kate Cox. She has already been to the Emergency Room multiple times with severe cramping and bleeding, and carrying the fetus longer could cause her to lose her life-giving fertility forever.

A Texas judge has already ruled that this pregnancy meets the requirements to grant an emergency exception to the Texas abortion ban.

In response, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued an announcement that the judge’s order “will not insulate hospitals, doctors or anyone else from civil and criminal liability.” Any doctor who performs the procedure can expect to be arrested and charged, and any hospital that allows it “may be liable for negligent credentialing of the physician.”

Let’s be clear, AG Paxton is threatening jail time for doctors and criminal liability for hospitals if they perform the court ordered abortion that would save Kate Cox’s life.

This is completely unacceptable. It is an abridgement of human rights so severe it must be confronted immediately. The Department of Justice must step in.

The Justice Department cannot allow the intimidation efforts of the Texas Attorney General to prevent a woman from receiving life-saving medical care. The Department of Justice must do whatever is necessary to ensure Kate Cox gets the court ordered medical care she needs.

This is a critical moment in the movement for reproductive freedom and the rights of pregnant people to get the life-saving medical care they need. If the DOJ needs to enforce the court order by sending law enforcement to escort her into the hospital, stand outside the Emergency Room door and prevent the arrests of doctors, nurses or any healthcare professional to ensure Cox gets life saving care, they must do it now.

Demand U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice to intervene immediately to do whatever it takes to protect Kate Cox, Texas women, doctors, and hospitals, from Texas AG Ken Paxton now.