United States: Arizona will enforce an 1864 law to ban abortion in all cases

Arizona will join 14 other states that have banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy, a change brought about by a state Supreme Court ruling issued Tuesday that determined officials can do so implement an 1864 law which penalizes all the abortions, except when the woman’s life is in danger.

The state’s highest court has indicated that implementation will not begin until Interior at least two weeks. The law It does not provide exceptions in cases of rape or incest.

The number of abortions in the state is expected to decrease by around 1,100 per month practically to zero, as measured by a survey conducted by the Family Planning Society. The prediction is based on what has happened in other states that have banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy.

State Senator Eva Burch, who had an abortion after announcing on the Senate floor last month that she wanted to terminate her pregnancy because It wasn’t feasiblehe criticized Republican lawmakers who supported the ban.

“The fight for reproductive rights is not over in Arizona,” he said, referring to a statewide petition put the issue on the ballot this fall. “The current situation should not stop us.”

According to AP VoteCast, six out of 10 Arizona voters in the 2022 midterm elections they supported ensuring access to legal abortion nationwide.

Planned Parenthood executives They have promised to continue abortions during the short time they are still legal and said they will strengthen networks that help women travel out of state to places like New Mexico and California to access that medical procedure.

“Even with today’s ruling, Planned Parenthood Arizona will continue to provide abortions up to 15 weeks for a very short period of time,” said Angela Florez, president of the organization’s Arizona chapter.

Brittany Crawford, 34, a mother of three and owner of a hair salon in Phoenix, affirmed the Supreme Court ruling could have significant repercussions.

“There will be many desperate girls doing anything to get rid of their children,” Crawford said. “Some might die.”

She herself had an abortion at age 18, just out of high school, and said she suffered enormous emotional trauma.

“I still think I should have the right to decide whether I want to have a child or not,” she said.

However, the Arizona Center for Policy, which has long supported anti-abortion proposals before the state Congress, said the state Supreme Court reached the appropriate conclusion. “Today’s result recognizes the inviolability of all human life and prevents women from the physical and emotional harm of abortion,” the group said in a statement.

Nearly every state abortion ban has been challenged with a lawsuit. Courts have blocked the implementation of some restrictions, including pregnancy bans in Utah and Wyoming.

The Arizona ruling indicates as much Doctors can be prosecuted for performing an abortion, and the Act of 1864 provides for a sentence of two to five years in prison for doctors or anyone else assisting in the procedure.

“In light of this ruling, doctors are now aware that all abortions, except those necessary to save a woman’s life, are illegal,” the Arizona Supreme Court said in its decision, adding that additional criminal and regulatory sanctions. for abortions performed after 15 weeks.

Jill Gibson, medical director of Planned Parenthood Arizona, said that means legal considerations will now likely carry considerable weight in any abortion decisions.

“It just creates an environment that makes it really impossible for a doctor to understand the risk that they are taking in caring for their patients,” Gibson explained. “Instead of making clinical decisions based on what my patients tell me, I’ll call my lawyers on the phone to guide me on what I can do.

Since the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, most states governed by Republicans have started to implement new bans or restrictions and most countries governed by Democrats have sought to protect access to abortion.

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