What's Coming Next?
Most recent state attack on the right to choose.
In early September 2021, Texas state legislatures passed S.B. 8, which bans most abortions after about 6 weeks, which is before most women know they are pregnant [1]. What is essentially a "heart beat" law prohibits physicians from knowingly performing abortions if there is a detectable fetal heartbeat [2]. This law does make exceptions for medical emergencies [3]. It established patients cannot be sued, but those who assist in the procedure (physician, person who drives patient, etc) can be sued [4]. The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Texas law to stand, even though they have yet to rule on it's constitutionality [5].
Supreme Court decision could change the course of history... again.
After allowing Texas's heartbeat law to pass, on December 1, 2021, the Supreme Court heard its most recent case regarding a woman's right to choose [6]. The case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health will be the first abortion related case the three judges appointed during President Trump's four-year term will hear, and the first in 29 years [7]. This case questions the constitutionality of Mississippi's 15-week ban, which is significantly before fetal viability (which is 22-24 weeks) [8]. Women across the country are afraid that this case has the potential to overturn the Roe decision, and take away their right to choose.