US’ Roe v. Wade Case 1973 Flashcards
US’ Roe v. Wade Case 1973
US SC landmark judgement which made abortion a constitutional right and ruled
that abortion would be allowed up to the point of
foetal viability which was around 28 weeks (7 months)
at the time of the Roe judgment;
Why is it in the news now?
Recently, a leak by political journalism company
Politico has revealed that, the US Supreme Court has
decided to overturn Roe v. Wade, 1973 which would
leave abortion laws entirely up to the states.
Foetal viability
Foetal viability is often seen as the point at which
the rights of the woman can be separated from the
rights of the unborn foetus.
THEN: around 28 weeks (7 months)
at the time of the Roe judgment;
NOW: experts now
agree that advances in medicine have brought
the threshold down to 23 or 24 weeks (6 months
or a little less).
Pro-choice
emphasizes the woman’s choice whether
to terminate a pregnancy.
pro-life
stresses the
humanity of both the mother and fetus, arguing
that a fetus is a human person deserving of legal
protection.
2018 Mississippi
law on abortion.
2018, the state of Mississippi banned most abortions
after 15 weeks — much before fetal viability, and
sooner than was allowed by Roe — throwing a direct
challenge to the 1973 judgment.
2019, “heartbeat” abortion law in Mississippi
> even more restrictive measure that banned most abortions once fetal cardiac activity
could be detected — which is about six weeks.
> physicians who performed
an abortion after a fetal heartbeat was detected
could have their medical licenses revoked.
> no exceptions for pregnancies
caused by rape or incest.
> This law too was blocked by a district judge, and in
February 2020, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in
New Orleans agreed with the decision.
