Massachusetts has enacted a law allowing abortions throughout pregnancy, a move that has drawn criticism from some medical professionals and anti-abortion advocates who argue that late-term procedures are medically unnecessary and potentially harmful to mothers.
Dr. Christina Francis, a board-certified OB-GYN and CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs, stated that abortions after 24 weeks are not medically required in emergency situations. She explained that in cases where a woman's life is in danger, delivery via C-section is a more immediate and safer option than a late-term abortion procedure. Francis noted that an emergency C-section can be performed in under five minutes, whereas a later-term abortion can take multiple days, increasing risks for both mother and child.
The legislation, signed by Democratic Governor Maura Healey, expands physicians' discretion in authorizing abortions later in pregnancy and shields them from legal repercussions. Governor Healey’s office indicated the law aims to prevent women from needing to travel out of state for late-term abortions, which can complicate their care.
Francis expressed concern that the law does not set specific gestational limits for abortions, potentially allowing them up to the very end of pregnancy. She raised concerns about the risks of such procedures for the mother and stated her belief that fetuses can feel pain as early as 12 weeks of gestation. She described some abortion procedures as dismemberment, sometimes performed on live fetuses.
Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood clinic director and CEO of the organization And Then There Were None, echoed these concerns, disputing the notion that late-term abortions are exclusively performed for rare medical emergencies. Johnson believes the Massachusetts law is a response to conservative states enacting earlier abortion restrictions.
Johnson suggested that while many people support abortion rights, they may not agree with elective abortions performed late in pregnancy, such as at 36 weeks, which she stated the legislation permits.
Governor Healey's office stated the bill aims to support women and families facing difficult decisions late in pregnancy, citing instances where women received devastating news and were forced to travel for care. Healey emphasized that Massachusetts should offer the strongest abortion protections in the country, asserting that healthcare decisions should be made between women and their doctors.
The legislation is slated to take effect 90 days after its signing.