How Does the Overturning of Roe v. Wade Affect Women’s Rights?

What Does It Mean That Roe v. Wade Was Overruled?In 1973, Roe v. Wade established that the right to an abortion was protected by the “right to privacy” clause in the U.S. Constitution. This meant that abortion became a federally protected right.  In the recent Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, the Supreme Court declared this conclusion to be invalid. This means that abortion is no longer a federally protected right, but is handed down to the states to be decided on.

How Does This Impact Texas?

Since September 2021, abortions have been unavailable in Texas after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is typically around 6 weeks after conception. Texas has a “trigger” law that restricts abortion except in cases of life endangerment.  These provisions are in Chapter 170A of the Texas Health & Safety Code, which was enacted by House Bill 1280. The details of this bill stipulate that they will go into effect 30 days after the official overruling of Roe v. Wade, which is August 25th, 2022.  Women will not be sued or prosecuted for their own abortions.

Are Other Rights or Healthcare Access Going to Be Impacted?

This ruling does affect abortion access in the state of Texas, including medication abortions; however, it does not limit a women’s access to care if she has a high-risk pregnancy, an ectopic pregnancy, or a natural miscarriage or stillbirth.  While elective abortions will be prohibited, the Texas state legislature has shown no indication they will make any laws prohibiting a woman from receiving the medical attention that she needs.

What’s Next? 

Regardless of the state’s abortion laws, Pregnancy Resources of Abilene will continue to provide no-cost pregnancy services to those in need.

Free Women’s Services in Abilene

One of these services is an ultrasound, which can help confirm how far along you are, as well as the location of your pregnancy. This is important so that you can learn if your pregnancy is ectopic. Ectopic pregnancies are located outside of the uterus, happen in 1 out of every 50 pregnancies, and require immediate medical attention.  We also offer an options consultation which will allow you to ask questions in a pressure-free environment and learn about available local resources.  Contact us today so you can get the information you need to move forward with confidence. Walk-ins for pregnancy testing are also welcome!