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ROE
VS WADE DECISION 1973
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Here
are the FACTS about the Court decision:
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Supreme Court ruled: |
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that human offspring are not persons "in the whole
sense" at any time before birth. (The Court did not
even tell us when we become "persons" - just that
unborn children cannot be considered "persons".)
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that during the first 3 months of pregnancy, a state
may make no laws regulating abortion, except perhaps,
if they wish to provide that abortions must be done
by licensed physicians.
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that after 3 months and until "viability" (which was
not precisely defined but was referred to as being
approximately 6 to 6½ months), states could make only
abortion laws aimed at safeguarding the health of
the mothers (for example, that abortions be performed
in hospitals, etc}.
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that from viability until the end of pregnancy, states
still cannot prevent an abortion if it is performed
"to preserve the life or health of the mother".
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The
Court defined "health" to include "all factors -
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physical,
emotional, psychological, familial and the woman's
age - relevant to the well-being of the patient."
THUS, ABORTION IS AVAILABLE FOR ANY EMOTIONAL OR CONVENIENCE
REASON, EVEN DURING THE LAST STAGE OF PREGNANCY.
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On
July 1, 1976, the Supreme Court extended its original
decision and ruled that:
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abortions may be performed on minor daughters without
the knowledge of their parents.
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women (whether married or unmarried) may obtain abortions
without the knowledge or consent of the baby's father.
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