Texas abortion providers say they've been forced to turn away patients under new law

A day after the nation's most restrictive anti-abortion law went into effect, doctors and advocates reported a steep decline in abortions across Texas.

A day after the nation's most restrictive anti-abortion law went into effect, doctors and advocates reported a steep decline in abortions across Texas. Houston provider Dr. Bhavik Kumar said he normally performs between 20 to 30 abortions a day. Since the new law, he said he's only seen six patients -- and was forced to turn half of them away. "Just yesterday I saw somebody who thought she was earlier in the pregnancy, but once she got here and had her ultrasound, found out she was much further along," said Kumar, who works out of a Planned Parenthood. "She was crying and we began to explore options and think through the logistics of if she would be able to go out of state for the care that she needed." The new law bans physicians from providing abortions "if the physician detects a fetal heartbeat" including embryonic cardiac activity, which can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, and stipulates that any private citizen can sue a person who they believe is providing an abortion or assisting someone in getting an abortion in Texas after six weeks. A plaintiff could collect at least $10,000.