Many people thought the reversal of Roe V. Wade meant sweeping changes for abortion in most conservative states.
But in truth, the Supreme Court’s decision didn’t actually change a whole lot for the state of Missouri because abortion hasn’t been common here for quite some time. Tight restrictions were already in place surrounding the abortion industry.
So, how does the overturning of Roe V. Wade affect MO? In short– not much. Here is why:
Abortion Was Already Declining in the State
According to the Missouri Independent, In 2020, 167 abortions were performed in the state. That’s a decrease of 97% over the past 10 years. Based on those numbers, fewer than 5% of abortions received by Missouri residents happened in the state.
There has only been one abortion clinic in the entire state for the last several years because of abortion restrictions implemented in 2019. The other clinic that was practicing before that shut down because its license expired.
So what is different now?
A 2019 law included a trigger that was created to go into effect only when/if Roe v. Wade was ever overturned. That trigger law declared that abortion would be illegal in Missouri regardless of rape or incest, with the only exception being for the case of a medical emergency.
Directly after the June 24th decision at the Supreme Court, all abortion was banned. So those 5 percent of abortions that would have happened in the state no longer can legally happen unless, of course, it is a medical emergency.
Women Still Have Access to Good Healthcare
If a pregnant woman is having a medical emergency, she can legally have an abortion.
In the words of the State Department: “a [medical emergency is a] condition which, based on reasonable medical judgment, so complicates the medical condition of a pregnant woman as to necessitate the immediate abortion of her pregnancy to avert the death of the pregnant woman or for which a delay will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.”
In other words, a medical emergency is a situation in which the mother will likely die if doctors do not intervene.
Women will not have to die if they are under duress. Doctors will still do everything in their power to save the life of a pregnant mother.
In addition to emergency healthcare, women also still have access to all the other important prenatal care, pap smears, mammograms, and cancer screenings they need.
You don’t even always have to pay for it. Our clinic offers free ultrasounds and pregnancy testing.
Medicaid is available to help cover the costs of births and other prenatal appointments.
With a little research, you can find help for your medical needs.
Women Still Have Options
If you plan to go out of state for an abortion, it is important to know you have more than one option for your unintended pregnancy. No one should ever feel pressured to make a choice or be put in a corner when it comes to their future. Destiny is yours to own.
At our clinic, we can help you learn more about what the adoption process looks like, or offer education about parenting your child. We can also walk you through the risks of abortion and talk through your next steps.
We want to make sure you have all the details so you can make the best choice. We would be happy to listen to, encourage, and support you. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.