- Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old woman from San Antonio, died in December 2024 while 20 weeks pregnant after being diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy-related condition.
- Her family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and others, claiming that the state's abortion ban and denial of care led to her death.
- The lawsuit alleges that Walker and her family requested an abortion as her health deteriorated, but doctors refused to provide the treatment.
- The legal action names Paxton and the executive director of the Texas Medical Board, Stephen Brint Carlton, among others, for their roles in enforcing the abortion ban.
- Walker’s family claims that Paxton and Carlton deprived her of her right to life by enforcing a merciless blanket prohibition on abortion.
- Walker struggled with chronic health issues, including obesity, uncontrolled high blood pressure, and a seizure disorder, which complicated her pregnancy.
- In September 2024, Walker was hospitalized and learned she was nearly six weeks pregnant while suffering from elevated blood pressure.
- Despite her deteriorating condition, including seizures and a severe blood clot, Walker was denied an abortion at a clinic in late October.
- Walker was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia on December 27, and her health rapidly declined until she was found unresponsive at home on December 30.
The lawsuit filed in Bexar County claims that Tierra Walker was denied an abortion despite suffering from severe pre-eclampsia, which led to her death at 20 weeks pregnant. Her family alleges that Ken Paxton and other officials enforced a "merciless blanket prohibition" on abortion, contributing to her tragic outcome.12359
Walker experienced multiple health crises, including seizures and blood clots, while her family repeatedly requested an abortion. The lawsuit states that doctors told her, "your baby is fine," despite her deteriorating health. Molly Duane, litigation director of Amplify Legal, emphasized the systemic failures, stating, "Tierra Walker is proof that there is no exception... the medical emergency exception is nothing more than words on a page."8
The suit also names the Texas Medical Board and individual doctors, alleging deliberate indifference and medical mistreatment. The family argues that the abortion ban is unconstitutional and has led to preventable deaths among pregnant Texans. Michelle Maloney, another attorney for the family, noted a pervasive culture of fear among medical providers, leading to a lack of documentation regarding abortion discussions. The lawsuit seeks accountability for the systemic issues that contributed to Walker's death, highlighting the urgent need for reform in Texas's abortion laws.
“The lawsuit, filed in Bexar County, also names the Texas Medical Board's executive director and the University of Texas Health Science Center, alleging 'deliberate indifference' and a 'merciless blanket prohibition' on abortion. Walker's family says she was denied an abortion despite facing seizures and blood clots, and the suit seeks to challenge the ban's constitutionality.”
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