TEXAS — Josseli Barnica’s death in 2021 was linked to a 40-hour delay in her abortion care during a miscarriage, as reported by ProPublica.

What You Need To Know

  • Doctors told Josseli Barnica that they would not intervene in her miscarriage until the fetus stopped having a heartbeat, stating that it would be deemed a “crime” to do otherwise

  • The 28-year-old mother had to endure a 40-hour wait, during which her uterus was exposed to bacteria

  • Barnica died from an infection three days after giving birth

  • In Texas, doctors who conduct abortions could face life imprisonment, fines reaching $100,000 and the loss of their medical licenses

Doctors told Barnica that they would not intervene in her miscarriage until the fetus stopped having a heartbeat, stating that it would be deemed a “crime” to do otherwise, the report states. Her 17-week pregnancy had already resulted in a miscarriage that was described as “in progress” in the medical documents obtained by ProPublica.

According to Barnica’s husband, the medical team advised her to wait for the absence of a heartbeat following Texas’ new abortion ban, as reported by ProPublica.

The 28-year-old mother had to endure a 40-hour wait, during which her uterus was exposed to bacteria.

Barnica died from an infection three days after giving birth.

In Texas, a panel of maternal health professionals reviews these deaths to propose prevention strategies, but their detailed reports on each case are confidential and they are still studying cases from 2021, ProPublica also reports.

Related Stories

In Texas, doctors who conduct abortions could face life imprisonment, fines reaching $100,000 and the loss of their medical licenses.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling on Roe v. Wade, a number of states under Republican control have imposed restrictions on abortion.