Texas Doctor Has License Revoked After Prescribing Abortion Inducing Drugs

The Texas Medical Board has revoked the medical license of Stephenville orthopedic surgeon Dr. William “Bill” Evans after determining that he prescribed an abortion-inducing drug to a patient with whom he had an inappropriate sexual relationship; another example of why Texas must continue enforcing its laws protecting unborn children.

The Texas Medical Board issued its revocation of Evans' license on September 4. The board's action stems from conduct involving a patient with whom Evans was found to have had an inappropriate sexual relationship.

According to the official notice, Evans prescribed an “abortive” medication to the patient in December 2023, in violation of Texas law. This case raises two fundamental issues: the protection of innocent unborn children and the responsibility of medical professionals to obey the law and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with their patients.

Evans had practiced medicine in the Cross Timbers region for decades. Cross Timbers Orthopaedics previously described him as having served the area since 1998, and identified him as a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and Emory University. His practice has now closed.

Texas law generally prohibits abortion while providing exceptions for medical emergencies. The state's current law specifically recognizes that physicians may intervene when, in their reasonable medical judgment, treatment is necessary to prevent the pregnant woman's death or substantial impairment of a major bodily function.

The Legislature has established a legal framework governing abortion-inducing drugs and the physicians who prescribe them. Texas law defines an abortion-inducing drug and establishes requirements surrounding their use.

We believe doctors should be held to a particularly high standard because of the trust families place in them. A physician has tremendous authority over vulnerable patients. That authority comes with an equally tremendous responsibility.

Doctors should not be permitted to decide for themselves which laws they will follow based on personal ideology or preference. If a physician believes a law is unjust, there are lawful avenues for challenging it. What should never happen is for a medical professional to simply disregard the law and put patients and unborn children at risk.

Texas has established a legal framework under which violations can carry serious consequences. State law gives regulatory authorities the ability to discipline medical professionals for violations, including through licensing actions.

The Texas Medical Board exists in part to protect the public by regulating physicians and enforcing professional standards. The Board routinely takes disciplinary action against physicians for violations involving issues such as unprofessional conduct, quality of care, prescribing practices, and other violations.

Passing pro-life laws is important, but enforcing those laws is equally important. Texas lawmakers have worked for years to build some of the strongest protections for unborn children in the country. Those protections only mean something if state officials are willing to investigate violations and hold offenders accountable.

We support the Texas Medical Board's decision to revoke Evans' license and believe the state must continue vigorously enforcing laws that protect patients, families, and unborn children. License revocation is a start but the correct legal action should follow.

Texas has chosen to protect life. Those protections must be defended, not only in the Capitol, but in doctors' offices, hospitals, and communities throughout the state.