On May 2, 2022, the Supreme Court leaked a draft opinion that detailed overturning Roe v. Wade. From that draft, it was drawn that the overturning of Roe v. Wade was likely, as the majority of judges voted in favor of the post 15-week abortion ban. It was the first time a draft opinion had ever been leaked in the Supreme Court’s history, and it proved to garner immense backlash from the public.
Roe v. Wade is the landmark decision from the Supreme Court that said that the United States should provide reasonable federal protection to a woman’s right to have an abortion. The consequences of overruling this decision would result in the abortion rights of all women in the United States to lose federal law protection. Many states thatdon’t support abortions have already set up so-called “trigger laws” regarding abortion — laws that would go into effect once Roe v. Wade is overturned.
For example, in Mississippi, there is a trigger law for abortions that would ban all abortions with the exceptions of cases of rape or a situation where the mother’s life is in danger. Notice how it says nothing about incest? Nothing about cases where a fetus has defects that would kill them once delivered?
The Wordsworth Editorial Board cannot stress how frustrating and unjust the draft opinion of Roe v. Wade is. Abortions won’t ever stop. However, the overruling of Roe v. Wade would take away the right to a safe abortion. How can something that would inevitably bring about more harm than good possibly be a good idea? More women will have to resort to other means such as using the coathanger method, or even going to unlicensed doctors to receive abortions, which in turn will result in more women being at risk of losing their lives due to these unsafe procedures. Women should not have to risk losing their lives simply because they are unable to receive a medical procedure that should be a fundamental right. By banning abortions, women’s rights are taking a step backwards. Why are we banning things that would give a woman more control over her body? It is not only the rights to abortions that are at risk; according to NPR, the rights of usage of contraceptives are also at risk.
States with trigger laws on abortion do not often consider other cases in which abortion would be the best option for all involved. If the baby were to have some fatal defect that would kill it once it exits the womb, some states would prevent the mother from having an abortion. That is purely inhumane. We are questioning why some would be willing to let a baby suffer in the minimal moments it has alive instead of letting the mother decide whether she wants to carry out the pregnancy.
The beliefs of others should not be pushed onto an expecting mother. No one except the person themselves should have a say in what they do with their body. The WordsWorth Editorial Board cannot stress the importance of women being able to have control over their own bodies. It is imperative that these rights must not be infringed on, as it would undermine the freedom our very country prides itself on.
