Abortion Today
Getting an abortion today is not as easy as it should be. 84% of U.S. counties have no abortion providers. Conservatives have managed to put as many restrictions on abortion as possible, from parental consent requirements to mandatory 24 hour waiting periods. Anti-abortion extremists have used clinic violence as a way to deter women from using the clinic's services. Harassment of clients and staff is done on a daily basis by protestors despite the highly private nature of an abortion. Clinic physicians also face a constant threat, 6 doctors have been murdered since 1993, and many other doctors, nurses, and patients have been injured. Anti-abortion extremists have used picketing of clinics and even the use of poison gas to get their point across.
Counseling is still used in clinics today, although some claim it has become biased. It is still done in much the same way as Jane counseled women, where clients are given an explicit description of what's going to happen to her. Women are also encouraged to talk about their feelings about the procedure. They are counseled before and after the abortion.
Is it safe?
Based on data from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of dying as a direct result of a legally induced abortion is less than one per 100,000.
How much does it cost to have an abortion?
The cost of an abortion today depends on the length of your term. Planned Parenthood's prices range from $350-$575, still an outrageously high amount.
Will the laws on abortion change?
They already have. Conservatives have been trying to push anti-choice legislation through Congress since Roe v. Wade. With November's election, however, republicans have gained the majority in Congress, and many anti-choice bills have a better chance of becoming law. These laws make up even more restrictions on women, "like a measure that makes it a federal crime to circumvent state parental consent laws by transporting a minor across state lines for an abortion." An article in the Dec. 4, 2004 issue of the indystar.com describes these changes in the Senate.
In Kansas, on April 21, 2003, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed HB 2176, a Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providersa bill. "The bill imposed burdensome restrictions and would have given unelected state officials the authority to create and implement a vast array of new licensing, professional qualification, physical plant, and administrative regulations on health care professionals who provide abortion services." Good for her!
There have, however, been laws made to support abortion clientele and the staff, as well as to help keep a women's right to choose. The laws restricting abortion are regulated by the state.