The 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case, Roe v. Wade, ruled that women have a constitutional right to choose abortion without excessive restriction from the government. In the last 50 years, politicians have worked hard to define what “excessive restrictions” really look like when it comes to abortion.
It has since been determined that abortion is legal up until the point of viability. In other words, women can terminate their pregnancies until the point at which the fetus could survive outside of the womb on its own.
However, with considerations of new scientific discoveries and human rights movements on the rise, some states are working to change laws surrounding abortions.
If you’re considering terminating your pregnancy, it’s important to be aware of these potential upcoming changes and the laws that are currently in effect.
Current Abortion Laws in Michigan in 2021
Here are some of the main laws regulating abortion in the state of Michigan:
- Before receiving an abortion, the patient must receive a counseling session that includes information on abortion procedures. They must then wait 24 hours before receiving the procedure.
- Unless an additional insurance rider has been purchased, abortion will only be covered by private and public insurance plans in the case of life endangerment.
- Minors must receive parental consent before their abortion procedures.
- Abortions performed past the point at which the pregnancy is considered viable are only legal in cases of life endangerment.
Abortion Law Changes in 2021
While the United States government has outlined general legislation surrounding abortion, individual states have some freedom to define and regulate the procedure within their borders and many states have pushed for more legislation and regulations.
In 2018, Mississippi passed a law that banned abortion after 15 weeks. Due to the Supreme Court declaring it unconstitutional, the ban has not been in effect since. However, the Supreme Court recently decided to review the legislation, potentially impacting abortion’s overall standing in America as a whole.
The decision on this review would be a step towards overturning Roe v. Wade, meaning each state — including Michigan — would then be responsible for determining abortion restrictions on their own.
Schedule a Free Appointment
To learn more about these laws and how they might impact your abortion options, schedule an informational appointment at PRC Grand Rapids today.
In addition to educational resources, we provide free lab-quality pregnancy testing, ultrasound scans, STI testing, and treatment, as well as referrals for other medical services and physical needs!