With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, many people are wondering what abortion access is available to them at a local level, if at all. Some worry the Supreme Court ruling now means abortion is banned in all 50 states, or that healthcare choices for women will become more limited.
Read the rest of this article to learn what is factual, what is not, and how this affects you locally.
What It Means that Roe v. Wade Was Overturned
The premise of Roe v. Wade was that abortion access was granted to women in the Constitution. Because of this, abortion has been a federally protected right since Roe was first decided in 1973.
Now that this case has been overturned, this means that this federal protection has been removed, and the decisions to regulate abortion go back to the state governments to be made on a local level.
So, abortion is not automatically illegal in all 50 states, but it is now dependent on state laws instead of on the federal level.
Is Abortion Legal in the State of Minnesota?
Abortions are codified in the state constitution of Minnesota, so a woman’s ability to choose an abortion is protected even after the overturning of Roe.
It does, however, prevent an abortion if the pregnancy is viable with the exception of pregnancy that endangers the life of the mother. Minnesota regulations are not as restrictive as some states, but they also do require the informed consent of the woman’s parents if she is a minor.
Natural miscarriages, stillbirths, and ectopic pregnancies were never affected by Roe, so women with these conditions will always be able to receive the care they need.
What Happens Next?
Currently, in Minnesota, abortion is available up to the point of viability, which includes surgical and medication abortion procedures. Medical abortion is FDA-approved up to 10 weeks gestation.
It would take a state constitutional amendment to remove access to abortion in our state. However, regardless of what legislation is passed, Abria Pregnancy Resources is here to provide no-cost pregnancy services to women in need.
If you are interested in learning more about the pregnancy services we provide, contact us today!