Abortion is probably the most controversial topic in the United States at any given time. The desire to ban it keeps many leaning right while the left promotes abortion rights. Whatever you believe, I think everyone can agree that abortion and cases where it is considered are far more complex than the law could ever give credit to.
This means that the law doesn’t care about your mental illness(es), financial situation, how many kids you have, your partner or lack thereof and just about anything else that makes anyone giving birth to a human complicated. Along with that, the gestational period is 40 weeks. While I’m sure that can feel like a lifetime, decisions like abortion aren’t spur of the moment. The pregnant person and their spouse (if they have one) first have to decide if they want to have an abortion. Then, in Florida’s case, their doctor has to decide if they are allowed to do it based on the stiff law with the help of law professionals. This isn’t a quick process.
The law was put into place on July 1, 2022, and it has affected residents. Most recently, Deborah Dorbert, a pregnant woman from Florida, is currently plagued by the law. She was planning to have her second-born child in March or April when she found out that, at 23 weeks, her baby was diagnosed with Potter syndrome. This means her baby would not be able to survive as it would have underdeveloped lungs and no kidneys.
Doctors estimated it would survive between 20 minutes and 2 hours. However, her doctors said that because of the way the law was written they could not terminate the pregnancy.
This is the major gray area in this case. While it was after 15 weeks, the law says that two doctors have to sign off on an abortion for fatal fetal abnormalities. The reasons are unclear why she didn’t meet the criteria.
While it seems easy to place blame on the doctor for not performing the desired procedure, the blame should be on the law. It’s not surprising that Florida doctors are extra cautious with such cases, as if they get caught providing an abortion without all conditions being met, they are faced with “third-degree felony, imprisonment up to 5 yrs.; or 2nd-degree misdemeanor for performing a legal abortion in unlawful place, up to 60 days imprisonment; Fines: 3rd-degree felony, up to $5,000; 2nd-degree misdemeanor, up to $500.”
There isn’t enough research to say that abortion is directly linked to effects on mental health, but anyone could see how that is a difficult thing to experience regardless of opinion on abortion. However, it would only make sense for this emotional aftermath to dramatically escalate in a situation where you couldn’t get an abortion even if your baby is going to die after exiting the womb. Plus, Dorbert can’t even be induced until 37 weeks.
This law needs to be revised. It’s not worth the lives and families it is damaging. Dorbert’s situation is just one instance of how harmful this law can be, so – imagine all the stories not in the media and reconsider how necessary this law truly is.
Layne Rey is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Layne know by tweeting her @laynerey12.
