Why does this matter?
But lawmakers have continued proposing and passing bills that make abortiona medical procedureharder to access.
Here are 90 of the168 anti-abortion billsthat have been proposed so far in 2017.
Joseph Silk, David Brumbaugh, Matthew Hill, Mark Chelgren, Justin Humphrey, and Brad Klippert—just six of the many legislators who have introduced anti-abortion bills so far in 2017.
“I understand that [women] feel like that is their body.
I feel like it is a separatewhat I call them is, is youre a host.
So thats where Im at.
Im like, hey, your body is your body and be responsible with it.
Right now, doctors only perform these measures on a case-by-case basis when the chance of survival is high.
Doctors already have established protocols for how they sanitarily dispose of medical waste.
But these eight bills would require them to treat fetal tissue differently.
It’s one more potential obstacle to them having to keep their doors open.”
These bills would allow patients to sue their abortion providers for emotional distresseven years after receiving the procedure.
Others seek to criminalize medical providers who perform abortions.
So-called “Heartbeat Bills” ban abortions from the moment fetal cardiac activity is detectable.
This typically happens around the five- or -week markbeforemany people even realizethey’re pregnant.
(Learn more about what it means to be six weeks pregnant here.)
These bills are similar to laws already in place in16 statesand to two that were blocked for being unconstitutional.
Worth mentioning: Almost99 percentof abortions occur before the 20-week mark, according to Planned Parenthood.
Dilation and evacuation abortionsor D&E abortionsinvolve two steps.
First, a woman’s cervix is dilated.
Second, a doctor surgically removes the contents of the patient’s uterus.
The American Medical Associationrecognizesthis as the safest way a woman can terminate a pregnancy beyond the 14-week gestational mark.
(Both New Jersey and New York have introduced two.)
Some of these bills require people to have ultrasounds, and others require them to listen to sonogram results.
Some just require medical providers to offer to perform ultrasounds on people seeking abortions.
Feeling motivated to act?
There are plenty of ways to make your voice heard.
SELF’s resources onfinding activist opportunitiesandgetting involved in policy decisionsare great places to start.
Other organizations can help families in need accessaffordable childcare,job training, andmuch-needed foodandhousehold supplies.
Related:
Also:What If a Gun Were As Difficult to Get As an Abortion?
