A pregnant woman in Texas is seeking an emergency court order to allow her doctor to perform an abortion, despite the state's strict bans on the procedure. Kate Cox, who is 20 weeks pregnant, has been told that her unborn baby has a genetic abnormality called trisomy 18, which typically results in a stillbirth or the baby living for a week at most. Texas is one of 13 states that bans abortion at nearly all stages of pregnancy. Cox has started legal proceedings in Austin, asking for a temporary restraining order that would allow a doctor to perform an abortion without facing prosecution.

According to court papers, Cox has already had two previous caesarean sections, and continuing the pregnancy would require a third one, which could jeopardize her ability to have more children. However, due to Texas's restrictive abortion laws, her physicians have informed her that they are unable to provide the abortion she needs. The court papers state that Cox's doctors have said their "hands are tied," and she will either have to wait until her baby dies inside her or carry the pregnancy to term and watch her baby suffer until death.

The legal action taken by Cox is believed to be the first time a woman has sought a court order authorizing an abortion since the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v Wade ruling in 1973, which legalized abortion nationwide. Although Texas does allow exceptions to its abortion ban, doctors and women have argued in court this year that the state's law is so restrictive and vaguely worded that physicians are afraid to provide abortions for fear of facing criminal charges.

Cox has urged the court to rule on her case "expeditiously," stating that it is not a matter of if she will have to say goodbye to her baby, but when. In July, several women in Texas gave emotional testimony about carrying babies they knew would not survive and doctors unable to offer abortions due to the state's restrictive laws. A judge ruled that the abortion ban was too restrictive for women with pregnancy complications, but this decision was put on hold after the state appealed against it.

Cox's lawyer, Molly Duane, said that the scale of the problem faced by women like Cox is concerning. She emphasized the difficulty that many people face in filing a lawsuit during a health care crisis. Cox's suit is seeking protection for her doctor, Damla Karsan, and her husband, Justin, who could face legal consequences under the state's recent abortion restriction that allows private citizens to sue anyone who assists in obtaining an abortion.

Cox's case highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding abortion rights in Texas. The state has been at the forefront of efforts to restrict abortion, and its laws have faced criticism for being unclear and putting women with pregnancy complications at risk. The outcome of Cox's case could force the state to more clearly define the circumstances in which doctors can perform abortions without fear of prosecution.