In June 2022, the Supreme Court made a historic ruling on the issue of abortion and how it is addressed in each of the fifty states.
Read the rest of this article for more information about what this means and how it affects abortion access in Texas.
What Is Roe v. Wade?
In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled in a case called Roe v. Wade that a woman’s right to an abortion was included in the “right to privacy” clause of the US Constitution. This means that a woman’s choice to get an abortion was considered a private affair and not the business of the US government, and this became a federally protected right.
How Did Roe v. Wade Being Overturned Affect Abortion Access?
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court struck down the 1973 ruling, declaring that “the inescapable conclusion is that a right to abortion is not deeply rooted in the Nation’s history and traditions.“
They concluded the original argument of the 1973 ruling was invalid, and with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion is no longer a federally protected right.
This means the authority to regulate or protect abortion is now handed over to the state legislature of each of the 50 states.
Is Abortion Legal in Texas?
Before Roe v. Wade, in 2021, Texas prohibited abortions after a fetal heartbeat could be detected, which is typically around 6 weeks after conception.
Now, all abortions will be banned in the state of Texas, even before a heartbeat can be detected, except in cases of life endangerment.
What Happens Now?
This ruling does not limit a woman’s access to healthcare if she experiences any life-threatening complications or miscarries during her pregnancy. It also doesn’t limit care if she discovers she has an ectopic pregnancy.
At our center, we offer no-cost limited ultrasounds which can provide more information about the health of your pregnancy and confirm the gestational age (which can affect abortion eligibility in other states).
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!