In Texas cab drivers will be tried who take women to the abortion clinic

Americans will be able to sue cab drivers in Texas for $10,000 for driving women to abortion clinics, the New York Times reports.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to block a Texas law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The law does not criminalize illegal abortions, but gives citizens the right to sue anyone who “aids or abets” an abortion.

As the newspaper notes, citizens, even those not living in Texas, will be able to sue doctors, clinic employees, counselors, people who help pay for the procedure, and even Uber drivers who take patients to abortion clinics.

According to NPR radio, Texas-based Right to Life has set up a special “whistleblower” Web site where citizens can anonymously report anyone they think is violating abortion law.

On the federal level, abortion has been allowed since 1973 by the U.S. Supreme Court. A number of states have passed laws severely restricting or de facto banning abortion altogether.

The question of whether to permit or prohibit abortion remains politically charged in the United States, with opponents and supporters of abortion campaigning vigorously in society and politicians’ positions on the issue seriously affecting their electoral prospects.

Supporters of abortion argue for women’s right to control their own bodies and that an embryo in the early stages of formation cannot be considered a human being. They also point out that banning abortion could lead to the criminalization of the procedure and the deaths of numerous women who attempt to terminate a pregnancy in violation of the law. Opponents of abortion cite religious precepts and the concept that human life begins at conception, making abortion an immoral act or even a crime.