On June 24, after the Supreme Court declared the
unconstitutionality of abortion, some state’s governments immediately
banned abortion, causing a growing fear and apprehension.
Just the Pill, a nonprofit organization that helps people in several
states acquire abortion pills, received almost 100 requests for
appointments hours after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v.
Wade’s precedent. The previous verdict released in 1973 ruled
that the Constitution of the United States generally protects a
pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion. The
appointments were almost 4 times the average daily requests, with
many patients live in states that banned abortion.
However, the decision of the Supreme Court has been criticized
because of the disregard of the patient’s right to their body. “Today’s
decision is unconscionable. Abortion is a basic and essential part of
health care – and patients must have the right to make decisions
about their health care and autonomy over their own bodies.” says
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier
Becerra.
“Just the thought of something happening to my daughter,
whether by force or by her choice, and there’s an unwanted
pregnancy, I want to be able to handle that,” says Katie Thomas, a
woman aged 42 who learned that no abortion will be
allowed in Arkansas. “If I need to handle that on my own, then I will.”
The abortion pill, or medication abortion, is authorized by the
Food and Drug Administration, and is applicable when the patient is
in their first 10 weeks of pregnancy. This drug will stop
the development of the fetus and cause a contraction in the uterus
and expel the fetus.
More than half of recent abortions in the United States were
carried out with abortion pills, according to preliminary data
released on Thursday, signifying that medical abortion has become
more obtainable and preferred method for ending pregnancy.
Many choose to use medication abortion because it is affordable,
mild and portable. It creates more privacy for the patient and can be
carried to anywhere after consulting medical professionals.
The prohibition of abortion creates many difficulties for a patient
to acquire this medication. Many choose to travel to other states
where abortion is legal, an action supported by the First
Amendment, according to Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
“…under bedrock constitutional principles, women who reside in
states that have banned access to comprehensive reproductive care
must remain free to seek that care in states where it is legal.
Moreover, under fundamental First Amendment principles,
individuals must remain free to inform and counsel each other about
the reproductive care that is available in other states.” says Garland.
To help these patients, Just the Pill had plans to deploy “a fleet of
mobile clinics” to provide medical consultation at the state borders
and distribute medications for the patients.
“By operating on state borders, we will reduce travel burdens for
patients in states with bans or severe limits,” said Dr. Julie Amaon,
the organization’s medical director. “And by moving beyond a
traditional brick-and-mortar clinic, our mobile clinics can quickly
adapt to the courts, state legislatures, and the markets, going
wherever the need is.”
Sources:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1656283369075x49219712
6305831100/Abortion%20Pills%20Take%20the%20Spotlight%20as
%20States%20Impose%20Abortion%20Bans%20-%20The%20New
%20York%20Times.pdf
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/06/24/hhs-secretary-becerrasstatement-on-supreme-court-ruling-in-dobbs-v-jackson-womenhealth-organization.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/26/us/abortion-pills-birthcontrol-vasectomies-roe-wade.html?searchResultPosition=1
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garlandstatement-supreme-court-ruling-dobbs-v-jackson-women-s
https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/24/texas-abortion-lawsupreme-court-ruling/
unconstitutionality of abortion, some state’s governments immediately
banned abortion, causing a growing fear and apprehension.
Just the Pill, a nonprofit organization that helps people in several
states acquire abortion pills, received almost 100 requests for
appointments hours after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v.
Wade’s precedent. The previous verdict released in 1973 ruled
that the Constitution of the United States generally protects a
pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion. The
appointments were almost 4 times the average daily requests, with
many patients live in states that banned abortion.
However, the decision of the Supreme Court has been criticized
because of the disregard of the patient’s right to their body. “Today’s
decision is unconscionable. Abortion is a basic and essential part of
health care – and patients must have the right to make decisions
about their health care and autonomy over their own bodies.” says
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier
Becerra.
“Just the thought of something happening to my daughter,
whether by force or by her choice, and there’s an unwanted
pregnancy, I want to be able to handle that,” says Katie Thomas, a
woman aged 42 who learned that no abortion will be
allowed in Arkansas. “If I need to handle that on my own, then I will.”
The abortion pill, or medication abortion, is authorized by the
Food and Drug Administration, and is applicable when the patient is
in their first 10 weeks of pregnancy. This drug will stop
the development of the fetus and cause a contraction in the uterus
and expel the fetus.
More than half of recent abortions in the United States were
carried out with abortion pills, according to preliminary data
released on Thursday, signifying that medical abortion has become
more obtainable and preferred method for ending pregnancy.
Many choose to use medication abortion because it is affordable,
mild and portable. It creates more privacy for the patient and can be
carried to anywhere after consulting medical professionals.
The prohibition of abortion creates many difficulties for a patient
to acquire this medication. Many choose to travel to other states
where abortion is legal, an action supported by the First
Amendment, according to Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
“…under bedrock constitutional principles, women who reside in
states that have banned access to comprehensive reproductive care
must remain free to seek that care in states where it is legal.
Moreover, under fundamental First Amendment principles,
individuals must remain free to inform and counsel each other about
the reproductive care that is available in other states.” says Garland.
To help these patients, Just the Pill had plans to deploy “a fleet of
mobile clinics” to provide medical consultation at the state borders
and distribute medications for the patients.
“By operating on state borders, we will reduce travel burdens for
patients in states with bans or severe limits,” said Dr. Julie Amaon,
the organization’s medical director. “And by moving beyond a
traditional brick-and-mortar clinic, our mobile clinics can quickly
adapt to the courts, state legislatures, and the markets, going
wherever the need is.”
Sources:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1656283369075x49219712
6305831100/Abortion%20Pills%20Take%20the%20Spotlight%20as
%20States%20Impose%20Abortion%20Bans%20-%20The%20New
%20York%20Times.pdf
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/06/24/hhs-secretary-becerrasstatement-on-supreme-court-ruling-in-dobbs-v-jackson-womenhealth-organization.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/26/us/abortion-pills-birthcontrol-vasectomies-roe-wade.html?searchResultPosition=1
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garlandstatement-supreme-court-ruling-dobbs-v-jackson-women-s
https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/24/texas-abortion-lawsupreme-court-ruling/
