Legal Abortion Limit in Maryland
In 1992, Maryland voters codified a woman`s right to abortion to sustainability. They wanted that to be overturned in Roe v. Wade; [21] It was cancelled in 2022. [26] [27] •In 2017, 89% of U.S. counties did not have clinics offering abortions. About 38% of women of childbearing age lived in these countries and would have had to travel elsewhere for abortions. [1] Of the patients who had an abortion in 2014, one-third had to travel more than 25 miles to reach a facility. [2] This type of late-term abortion is treated on a case-by-case basis and each woman will work with her own patient advocate to make the process as easy as possible for her. We`ll also tell you about your medical history to make sure we`re providing you with the best care. Opponents demanded that the bill appear on the ballot as a referendum, but voters voted 2-1 in favor of abortion rights in 1992. A qualified provider, defined as a person legally licensed to practice in Maryland and for whom the performing of an abortion is under their medical abortion license or certification, also known as an « abortion pill, » can be taken up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. The typical cost of the pill in Maryland is $400 to $525, but could be higher per provider.
In the state of Maryland, minors can obtain safe and legal abortions, but the doctor must inform at least one parent or guardian of the parents before the abortion can be administered. This parent or guardian doesn`t have to agree with the patient`s choice, they just need to be notified. There are exceptions, including: if the minor is able to give informed consent, if notification would not be in the best interests of the minor, if a reasonable attempt at notification has failed, if notification may lead to abuse against the minor, or if the minor does not live with his or her parents or guardian. [33] « If other states lose access to abortion treatments, there is concern that our volumes will be high and people from other states will travel for health care here in that state, » Karen Nelson, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood of Maryland, said Thursday. Dilation and evacuation25,26 (D&E) – 13 weeks LMP and above. Most second-trimester abortions are performed using this method. Local anesthesia, oral or intravenous analgesics, and sedation are commonly used. In addition to the need to open the cervix much wider, the main difference between this procedure and a first trimester abortion is the use of tweezers to grasp parts of the fetus and remove the baby in pieces. D&E is associated with a much higher risk of complications compared to a surgical abortion in the first trimester.
In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson`s Women`s Health Organization, which gave states the power to regulate, or even prohibit, abortion. Maryland laws generally allow abortions before viability. Maryland currently has 25 open abortion clinics; However, the New York Times shows several abortions that were closed in Maryland from 2013 to 2018. [36] In 1981, there were 29.3 abortions per 100 women aged 15 to 44, up from 19.5 in 2005. [34] Increased contraceptive use only contributes to a decline in abortions nationwide. The state cannot disclose the identity of those participating in the training, but requires organizations to have experience in coordinating abortion programs and submit annual reports. Abortions are very common. In fact, 3 out of 10 pregnant people in the United States have an abortion by the age of 45.
There are two types of abortion in the United States: medical abortion (also known as the abortion pill) and in-clinic abortion. In 2017, 29,800 abortions were performed in Maryland, although not all abortions that took place in Maryland were made available to Maryland residents: some patients may have traveled from other states and some Maryland residents may have traveled to another state for an abortion. Between 2014 and 2017, the abortion rate in Maryland increased by 7 percent, from 23.4 to 25.0 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age. Abortions in Maryland account for 3.5% of all abortions in the United States. [1] Contraceptive rates are also lowest among black women at risk of unintended pregnancy (83%) than among their white (91%) and Asian (90%) peers. [35] It is important to note that contraception is important because, although easily accessible, the groups that do not have access to contraception are the same population with the highest abortion rates. Black women are five times more likely to have an abortion than white women, largely because black women are three times more likely to experience an unplanned pregnancy than white women. [35] Safe and legal abortions are declining, but clinic closures remain a barrier to access for many women.
Closing clinics only stops safe and legal abortions. Studies show that closing clinics leads women to try their own abortions, which are much more dangerous. Clinic closures also lead to so-called Google « self-induced abortions, » showing that the need for these procedures still exists. 20 to 50 percent of women who have unsafe abortions are hospitalized due to complications, resulting in health problems and additional costs for women and the Maryland government that are higher than an abortion. [37] In 2017, approximately 862,320 abortions took place in the United States. The resulting abortion rate of 13.5 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age (15-44 years) represents an 8% decrease from the rate of 14.6 in 2014. [1] Abortion pill (medical abortion) services are available by appointment only. The geographic distribution of abortion clinics is not equal, as 71 percent of the state`s counties, mostly rural communities, do not have inpatient abortion clinics, according to an analysis by the nonprofit Guttmacher Institute for Reproductive Health. About one-third of Maryland women live in these counties, according to the nonprofit.
The anti-abortion group 40 Days for Life conducts seasonal prayer campaigns outside abortion centers in various Maryland cities. Individuals and groups sign up for 40 Days for Life to be present outside certain facilities for specific hours to pray for an end to abortion during each seasonal campaign. [50] Since 2017, Washington State, New Mexico, Illinois, Alaska, Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey have allowed qualified non-physicians to prescribe drugs only for medical abortions. [15] In August 2018, the state passed a law to protect abortion rights. [16] Maryland has many clinics and providers that offer safe and legal abortions, but as you can see in the figure on the right, they are concentrated in Baltimore and Washington, DC. In 2017, more than 70 percent of Maryland counties did not have a clinic or provider offering abortions. These counties include nearly 30 percent of Maryland women who do not have access to safe and legal abortion in their own county. [32] Pro-choice activists have seen pregnant patients drive up to three hours (from Salisbury to Baltimore) to complete the procedure, showing that the location of clinics is a barrier to abortion for many Maryland women. [38] Low-income residents may not be able to take time off work or pay for transportation, further demonstrating the seriousness of this barrier. If you`re traveling to Capital Women`s Group for a late-night abortion from Maryland, you may need to make travel arrangements. Capital Women`s Group`s talented and caring team of patients can help you organize your trip.
Medical abortion (also called the abortion pill) can be taken up to 70 days (10 weeks of pregnancy) after the start of the last menstrual period. If you want medication to make your abortion at the clinic more comfortable, you need to have a responsible companion with you to help you get home safely. Surgical abortions are performed by opening the cervix and inserting instruments into the uterus to suck, grab, pull and scratch the pregnancy. The exact procedure is determined by the baby`s growth level. If you are under 18, Maryland law requires you to have a parent or guardian to consent to an abortion procedure.