Key facts
- A federal complaint alleges two Texas hospitals denied a woman essential miscarriage care.
- The woman, Lynn Callaway, experienced severe symptoms and infection during a miscarriage.
- She was allegedly sent home twice from emergency rooms before receiving treatment.
- The complaint claims the hospitals violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA).
- Callaway also asked the Texas Medical Board and Texas Board of Nursing to investigate.
A federal complaint filed by Lynn Callaway alleges that two Austin-area hospitals denied her necessary care during a miscarriage, despite recent legislative efforts to clarify abortion bans. Callaway experienced severe symptoms, including chills and fever, and was allegedly sent home twice from emergency rooms before finally receiving treatment. The complaint asserts that Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Round Rock and St. David's Round Rock Medical Center violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), which mandates stabilizing treatment for medical emergencies. Callaway also requested investigations by the Texas Medical Board and Texas Board of Nursing. Her lawyers contend that EMTALA investigations are being delayed, partly due to a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Callaway's experience highlights ongoing fears among healthcare providers in Texas regarding the state's restrictive abortion laws, even after legislative attempts to provide clearer guidance on treating miscarriages. She reported that a doctor told her emergency rooms must be "damned sure that it’s an actual miscarriage" before offering treatment, indicating a continued hesitancy in providing care.