Houston, Texas – Josseli Barnica, a 28-year-old woman, tragically died due to delays in medical treatment following a miscarriage, becoming one of at least two women in the state reportedly affected by restrictive abortion laws. These laws make it difficult for doctors to act promptly in cases of miscarriage, often waiting until a fetal heartbeat is no longer detectable before providing medical interventions.
Barnica was admitted to HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest, where doctors noted she was experiencing a miscarriage at 17 weeks and was at a high risk for infection. Despite the medical complications, the treating physicians allegedly informed Barnica and her husband that any intervention required the absence of a fetal heartbeat, leaving Barnica vulnerable to infection for over 40 hours.
Her husband, who rushed from work after learning about the situation, reported that the medical team indicated they could not assist until there was no detectable heartbeat, reiterating that a timely intervention could be viewed as a crime under Texas law. Consequently, Barnica was left to wait for a resolution that would become unsurvivable. Three days later, she succumbed to an infection stemming from the prolonged exposure of her uterus to bacteria.
Medical experts consulted by ProPublica labeled Barnica’s death as “preventable,” categorizing it as a case of egregious neglect. They expressed concern that waiting for the fetal heartbeat to cease effectively violated established medical
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