Family sues Texas AG Paxton over woman's death after denied abortion
Tierra Walker died of preeclampsia at 20 weeks pregnant; lawsuit alleges Texas abortion ban caused her death.
KEY POINTS
- Tierra Walker, 37, died Dec. 30, 2024, at 20 weeks pregnant from preeclampsia complications
- Family filed wrongful death suit against AG Ken Paxton, medical board head, hospital, and doctors
- Lawsuit alleges Texas abortion ban caused death by deterring doctors from providing care
- Walker was denied abortion despite months of severe complications and repeated requests
- Over 90 doctors consulted on her case; none offered termination option
The family of Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old San Antonio woman who died in December 2024 at 20 weeks pregnant, filed a wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday in Bexar County District Court. The suit names Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Texas Medical Board Executive Director Stephen Brint Carlton, UT Health San Antonio, and treating physicians as defendants.
The complaint alleges Walker suffered seizures, blood clots, and repeated hypertensive crises over four months, all signs of preeclampsia. Despite her deteriorating health and requests for an abortion, providers denied care, telling her "your baby is fine." More than 90 medical professionals were consulted on her case, yet none offered termination.
“Tierra Walker is dead and those responsible must be held accountable.”
The lawsuit argues Texas's near-total abortion ban, which Paxton has vigorously enforced, intimidates doctors into inaction through threats of felony charges, license revocation, and minimum $100,000 fines. The ban allows exceptions only when pregnancy poses a risk of death or serious impairment of a major bodily function.
Walker's aunt, LaTanya Walker, the lead plaintiff, said at a Wednesday press conference: "I want justice for her. I want it to not happen to anyone else. It needs to stop." The suit claims the ban violates both the Texas and U.S. Constitutions.
The attorney general's office, Texas Medical Board, and UT Health San Antonio did not immediately respond to requests for comment, though spokespeople for the latter two declined to respond. Walker's case was previously detailed in a ProPublica investigation based on 6,500 pages of medical records.
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