Missouri Abortion Laws - How Is It Different From The Other States
In Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, giving states the authority to control, if not outright forbid, abortion.
A trigger prohibition that was in place in Missouri is now in force. Missouri abortion laws announced that abortions are not allowed in Missouri, except under medical circumstances.
If You're In Missouri And Need An Abortion
- Unless you meet the requirements for an exemption, Missouri residents who want an abortion must leave the state. There are extremely few exceptions, including:
- To preserve the life of the pregnant woman.
- To avoid serious physical risks to a pregnant woman
- You are permitted to travel outside of Missouri to obtain an abortion.
- You should be aware that certain states need a waiting time. This means that you might have to make an appointment for counseling and then wait the required amount of time before making an appointment for an abortion.
- Consider that many states require you to get parental or guardian consent for an abortion if you're under the age of 18. Check if you can get a judicial bypass if you need to go to a state that requires a parent or guardian to come with you, and you don't have one.
COPYRIGHT_LNN: Published on https://www.lawnewsnetwork.com/missouri-abortion-laws/ by K. N. on 2022-09-29T10:14:34.255Z
More About Missouri Abortion Laws
Given the way laws are structured, it can be difficult for non-attorneys to understand their rights and obligations. The fundamental specifications of Missouri's abortion law are listed in the table below.
Statutory Definition Of Abortion
The act of utilizing or recommending any tool, gadget, medication, drug, or other substance to end an embryo's or fetus' existence while it is still within its mother; or
Using or recommending any tool, equipment, medication, drug, or other substance to end a mother's pregnancy on purpose with the only goal of increasing the chance of live birth or getting rid of a dead unborn child.
Illegal
Except in medical situations, no abortion.
The Penalty For Unlawful Abortion
Class B crime (five to fifteen years in prison)
Restrictions On Abortion
- A patient must wait 72 hours before getting the procedure after receiving state-mandated counseling that contains material meant to deter them from getting an abortion. Two visits to the institution are required for counseling, since it has to be done in person and before the waiting period starts.
- Unless people pay extra for an optional rider, private insurance policies only cover abortion when a person's life is at risk.
- The Affordable Care Act's health plans can only provide coverage for abortion in situations when the life of the woman is at risk.
- Only situations when the life of the woman is at risk are covered by insurance coverage for public employees.
- It is not permitted to employ telemedicine to carry out medication abortion.
- The minor's parents must provide their permission before an abortion is performed.
- Public money can only be used to pay for an abortion if the woman's life is in danger, she is being raped, or she is pregnant.
- Except in situations where the patient's life is in danger or when their health is gravely jeopardized, abortion is prohibited.
- In the state, it is against the law to have an abortion because of race, sexual orientation, or a genetic problem.
- The state imposes superfluous and onerous requirements on abortion clinics' physical facilities, technological infrastructure, and personnel. Additionally, a nearby hospital's admitting credentials are essential for abortion providers.
Conclusion
Missouri abortion laws announced that abortion is illegal in Missouri unless it is essential to preserve the mother's life or in a medical emergency, although it's not clear which conditions fall under those categories.
The morning-after pill was one emergency contraceptive that a large Missouri hospital chain briefly stopped offering due to legal uncertainty about doctors facing criminal charges for prescribing the drug, even to sexual assault victims.
