After the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe V. Wade, almost fifty percent of states have prohibited or plan to prohibit abortions inside their borders.
In some states, laws provide exceptions in certain circumstances, including rape, sexual incest or threat to health or for the mother’s health. But, the language used in the laws can be unclear and varies between states that it’s difficult to determine what’s the correct interpretation and what is an exemption within your state.
the language of the Law
The main difference between medical emergency exemptions lies in the manner that the laws are written. If the exemption pertains to health reasons, such as the “health of the mom” then the mother has some flexibility as to the reasons a doctor has carried out or recommended the surgery.
When the exception is granted for”the “life of the woman” then there’s a greater stake in the legal system. The proof that a woman could not have died if she had an abortion can be a challenging hurdle to conquer as the dangers aren’t always obvious.
In the majority of cases doctors will need to talk to the hospital’s lawyer to ensure that they possess the proper documentation to show that the abortion was necessary in order in order to protect the life of the mother. In states where abortion is prohibited or severely restricted have to be aware of the danger of being punished criminally for performing an “unnecessary” abortion.
When testifying in front of in front of U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee A doctor who performs abortions in Illinois claimed that doctors from the nearby state of Missouri must “to be patient until (patients’) blood count falls or their vitals have become in danger” before they can conduct an emergency abortion.
If your doctor is of the opinion that they are unable to do the procedure legally, they could assist you to locate a facility that is able to perform the procedure in a legal manner. The procedure could require you to travel outside of the your state. Again, it will be at the decision of the physician and the clinic’s legal team.
Rape and Incest
Many states have outright banning abortions, exceptions can only be matched with the health and life threat to the mother. In the case of Incest or rape, it remains a great deal of backing for the exceptions. However, many legislators tend to limit them to exempts for health reasons.
The states which do allow exempting incest or rape are very different. In certain states, you are required to submit an official police report following an assault or a rape to establish that your abortion is legally protected from prosecution. In states where there are no specifics and the decision-making is left to the medical professional.
What can you do?
Since the abortion laws of each state differ so much and precise, the best details you’ll receive are directly from your city and state legislators and enforcement officers. The best way to know about your state’s laws is to pay attentively to those who enforce them.
As an example, in Wisconsin the state, an earlier abortion ban was reinstated however, the attorney general of the state stated that he would not be enforcing the law, despite the fact that abortion clinics are shutting down all over the state.
However, Utah’s prohibition on abortion does not apply to cases of rape and incest as well as cases of the fatal anomaly of the fetus, or in order to preserve mom’s life. Texas is a state that bans abortions in all forms other than to safeguard the life of the mother.
This month, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announced that federal law overrides state law regarding the protection of the health of the mother. The secretary said federal law, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act is a law passed in 1986 which guarantees emergency medical treatment for everyone, includes abortions. The law is sure to spark further disputes over legality among the Federal government as well as the states.