Texas officials and doctors sued over pregnant woman's preeclampsia death

The short version

• The family of Tierra Walker filed a lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, state medical board leadership, and healthcare providers following her 2024 death from preeclampsia at 20 weeks pregnant.[CBS News]
• The suit alleges doctors refused to perform a life-saving abortion due to fear surrounding Texas's abortion restrictions.[CBS News]
• Medical records reviewed by CBS News show no written documentation of abortion requests or offers, while an autopsy confirmed Walker died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease and preeclampsia.[CBS News]
• The action represents the first lawsuit filed over a death linked to an abortion ban.[The Washington Sun]

Key facts

• Tierra Walker's family filed a lawsuit in Bexar County District Court against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and several doctors alleging deliberate indifference and mistreatment.[CBS News · The Washington Sun]
• Walker died in 2024 at 37 years old and 20 weeks pregnant from hypertensive cardiovascular disease and preeclampsia.[CBS News · The Washington Sun]
• The lawsuit is the first filed over a death linked to an abortion ban.[The Washington Sun]
• A review of Walker's medical records by CBS News showed no documented requests for an abortion or offers of the procedure by doctors.[CBS News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Family blames Texas' "merciless" abortion ban for woman's death, sues Paxton, othersCBS News - Top Stories
• Family of Woman Who Died After Being Denied an Abortion Sues Ken PaxtonThe Washington Sun