Since 1973, the abortion issue in the U.S. has been very controversial.
During 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court in the Roe v. Wade case ruled the following: • Women have the right to have an abortion within the first three months of pregnancy.
• If a state has a compelling interest, it can intervene to protect a woman’s health or life.
• If a state has a compelling interest, it can intervene to protect the viability or the potential of life of the fetus or the unborn child.
During 1976, the Hyde Amendment became law. It prohibited using federal funds to pay for abortions except to save the lives of women. Later it was extended to cover pregnancies that arose out of incest or rape.
During 1980, the Court ruled the federal government would only pay for abortions to protect a woman’s health or life.
During 1989, the Court ruled a state law unconstitutional in prohibiting the use of public funds, employees or facilities to encourage and/or counsel a woman to have an abortion except where her life was in danger.
During 1991, the Court ruled in favor of federal government regulations that prohibited family planning funding being used for abortion services.
During 1992, the Court ruled that a state law could not put any undue burden on a woman’s right to an abortion. It ruled the following: • A woman’s doctor had to provide her with certain information at least 24 hours before an abortion.
• A woman seeking an abortion had to give her informed consent to her doctor.
• A woman did not need her husband’s consent to get an abortion.
• Minors had to get informed consent of at least one parent or guardian prior to the abortion.
During 2007, the Court upheld Congress’ Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act. This law was passed in 2003 that prohibited late-term abortion. Under this law, any doctor who, in or affecting interstate commerce, knowingly performs a partialbirth abortion and thereby kills a human fetus shall be fined and/or imprisoned not more than two years.
During 2016, the Court ruled that state law could not put any undue burden on women’s rights to an abortion. It ruled the following: • No abortions could be performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
• Doctors performing abortions did not need admitting privileges with hospitals within 30 miles of the abortion clinics.
• Abortion clinics did not have to be upgraded to the standards of hospital surgical standards.
During 2018, President Donald Trump reluctantly signed a money bill into law that included a provision giving Planned Parenthood half a billion dollars to fund some of its health services including abortions. The pro-choice supporters approved it, while pro-lifers opposed it.
After over 45 years, the abortion issue is still very controversial.
Silvestre Moreno Jr. Mercedes