Texas doctor acknowledges performing abortion in violation of new Texas law, says 'duty of care'

A Texas doctor says he recently performed an abortion in violation of the state's recently enacted law that bans most such procedures past six weeks of pregnancy, arguing he "had a duty of care to this patient." 

Dr. Alan Braid made the revelation in an opinion story published Saturday in The Washington Post. 

The San Antonio-based physician said he performed the procedure Sept. 6 – five days after the law went into effect.

He said the woman was in her first trimester but "beyond the state’s new limit." 

"I acted because I had a duty of care to this patient, as I do for all patients, and because she has a fundamental right to receive this care," said Braid, who’s been practicing OB/GYN for over four decades.