You’ve doubtless heard or learn in regards to the current SCOTUS determination that overturned Roe v. Wade and gave states the authority to make legal guidelines governing an individual’s proper to entry abortions and reproductive well being care. There are a lot of opinions, and much and many info, round this ruling, so I need to deal with the fast affect of this determination for Mainers. Briefly, present Maine regulation protects Mainers’ proper to entry abortion. The proper to get an abortion up till a fetus is taken into account viable outdoors the womb – 22 to 24 weeks – was codified into state regulation in 1993, almost 30 years in the past. Due to that, Maine is one in all 20 states which can be unlikely to undertake abortion restrictions within the wake of this SCOTUS determination. On the flip aspect, 20 states have already banned (or largely banned), will ban or are prone to ban abortions. That leaves 10 states, together with Florida, Pennsylvania and Michigan, coping with uncertainty.
I do know that persons are feeling many feelings and reacting to this information in some ways, however I stay assured that Mainers’ rights can be protected. Since 1993, Maine’s state abortion regulation has remained largely unchanged. Even this session, six anti-abortion payments have been launched to the Legislature, however my colleagues and I defeated all of them. Along with defeating these payments, the 129th Legislature — which I served in as a Home member — with the assist of Gov. Janet Mills, expanded entry to abortion. We allowed MaineCare to cowl abortions, and we allowed licensed doctor assistants and superior follow registered nurses to carry out abortions. Due to this, the non-public, private selections that Mainers make about their households and well being can occur with trusted well being care suppliers — irrespective of how a lot cash they make or the place they reside.
At a time like this, it’s finest to take heed to individuals who really present abortion care providers. When you have questions, or need to take a look at assets, listed below are a number of organizations to contact. To start out, there’s Deliberate Parenthood’s Biddeford Well being Heart, which affords a broad vary of reproductive well being care providers, together with abortion referrals. You’ll be able to name them at (207) 282-6620 or go to www.plannedparenthood.org. Subsequent, there’s Maine Household Planning. Additionally they provide abortion care. You’ll be able to name them at (207) 622-7524 or go to www.mainefamilyplanning.org. Lastly, there’s the Mabel Wadsworth Heart, which is the one not-for-profit, non-public, impartial feminist well being heart in Maine. They provide sexual and reproductive well being care to all folks no matter gender identification, insurance coverage standing, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, means or financial standing. You’ll be able to name them at (207) 947-5337 or go to www.mabelwadsworth.org.
The information of this historic reversal of a half-century of established regulation and precedent stays recent and uncooked. I hope that you’ll be able to discover some peace and solace in your lives. Please check out the information and the assets. We’re fortunate that we reside in Maine, however our hearts exit to those that are much less lucky. Specifically, I really feel for individuals who had their rights stripped away in a single day in addition to those that will quickly have them stripped away simply due to the place they reside.
In the event you ever want help, or have a query, please contact my workplace at (207) 287-1515 or ship me an e-mail at [email protected] It’s an honor to symbolize you.
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