On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court made a historic ruling that struck down Roe v. Wade. If you’ve been online at all, you know this is important but you may be wondering what the practical implications of this are and how it affects people who live in Minnesota.
Read this article for a breakdown of what the ruling meant, how it affected the United States, and what it means for Minnesota.
What is Roe v. Wade?
Abortion used to be illegal in most of the 50 states. That changed in 1973 when the Supreme Court decided via the Roe v. Wade case that abortion was federally-protected in the “right to privacy” clause of the Constitution.
When the Supreme Court revisited this decision, they decided that this argument was not credible and lacked historical precedent.
What Does it Mean that Roe v. Wade Was Overturned?
It does not mean that abortion was suddenly illegal overnight. It means that abortion is no longer a federally-protected right in the United States since it’s not a part of our Constitution. It will be up to each state how they choose to regulate abortion access.
What Kind of Abortion Access is Legal in Minnesota?
Because abortion is a right included in our state constitution, abortion remains legal in the state of Minnesota up to the point of viability (which is about 20 weeks). The only exceptions after that are if the pregnancy endangers the life of the mother.
If the person seeking an abortion is a minor, their parents must be notified before the procedure can take place.
Additionally, women can still receive the care they need in events of natural miscarriage, ectopic or high-risk pregnancies, etc.
Next Steps
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, the first step is to gather more information. This can look like scheduling an ultrasound which can tell you the viability and age of the pregnancy (two details needed to qualify for an abortion).
Ultrasounds can also rule out the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies can be life-threatening and should be addressed immediately.
At Life Lakes Center, we offer no-cost ultrasounds where you can get this information as well as ask questions about the pregnancy process, or learn about local resources. Contact us today to make your appointment!