Introduction
There is a crisis in the United States related to the recent development in the legal sphere concerning the nationwide availability of abortions. Abortion is a fundamental right that people possess since it is a significant factor in their health and well-being. This choice was removed after the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey outcomes (Davis 324). This nullification of the precedent that gave freedom to generations of women degrades people and disproves the pursuit of equality in society. There is a necessity to reinstate the countrywide restriction of abortion prohibition, which was previously guaranteed by the Roe v. Wade ruling, due to legal, health, and social complications stemming from the current circumstance.
Consequences of Ruling on Abortion
Authoritarian Consequences of Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court’s decision enables authoritarian practices to be applied to a significant portion of the U.S. population. People are banned from being able to protect their health and lifestyle, as the government is now able to put severe restrictions on women accessing medical facilities with qualified staff. Davis argues that, due to these outcomes, states are now able to put “penalties on abortion providers.”
At the same time, “vague statutory language could allow a zealous prosecutor to test the possibility of criminal charges against a pregnant person seeking an abortion” (325). A legal pursuit of healthcare providers allows the government to control people’s well-being and affect birth rates directly. This situation indicates a disturbing tendency for future generations, who may experience further erosion of their freedoms.
Violation of Bodily Autonomy and the Need for Legal Protection
By allowing individual states to place severe limitations on the availability of abortion, the Supreme Court breached women’s right to bodily integrity and liberty. A future mother’s choices are curbed by this decision, which can lead to poor outcomes. Prevention options have become more critical than ever, although their accessibility remains questionable and can lead to unwanted pregnancies. Specific cases that require medical intervention, such as pregnancies from assault or incest, are not accounted for adequately.
The lack of a legal foundation for women’s rights in the post-Roe era is degrading and dangerous to people. One’s attempts to protect their well-being can now be seen as a legal issue and cause one to be persecuted by the government. This notion highlights the need to reflect the right to abortion in the official documents better. Currently, medical and personal judgments are placed below the outcomes of the legal system, creating a hostile environment for the people of the United States.
Economic Insecurity and Disproportionate Impact on Marginalized Groups
A single decision erases the results of women’s struggle for equality in the United States. Abortions become more challenging to access for people who need them the most, as early detection requires one to be educated regarding their health status and all available options. Rice et al. state that this ruling can lead to “greater economic insecurity” among already disadvantaged parts of the U.S. population since their knowledge of potentially life-threatening complications is lacking (914). People with low socioeconomic status often do not possess the resources required for timely pregnancy tests, making them the primary victims of this circumstance. Aside from doctors who perform terminations despite the restrictions, women become the target of law enforcement in states that impose severe limitations on abortions.
Erosion of Support Systems and Obstacles to Reproductive Counseling
The history of Roe v. Wade reveals how this court ruling plays a critical role in supporting life-changing decisions that may lead a person to a better life. Public access to information on reproduction is not aligned with the Supreme Court’s judgment. Counseling on possible miscarriages or fetal anomalies is not widely available, which can create an issue with proper medical assessments of pregnant women’s well-being and the viability of their fetuses.
Moreover, smaller providers can close down due to the risk of being persecuted, leaving communities with no sources of professional advice. Women are put in a position that limits their support for personal growth. Under the current circumstances, an individual can lose their employment or insurance due to being unable to find a way to terminate a pregnancy until a period set by a state. In addition to this problem, the inability to abort children with apparent morbidities leaves people with little to no choice but to waste their lives caring for a person with severe disabilities.
Health Risks and the Criminalization of Essential Medical Care
Women’s health can suffer significantly due to the absence of legal abortion opportunities. The criminalization of this essential medical service forces people already in a vulnerable position to increase their expenses and access out-of-state clinics or use medical services more often. Individuals unable to achieve these goals or who do not react to pregnancy cues in time are left with no choice but to waste their money and health. Complications from mistimed deliveries, miscarriages, and a rise in mortality rates among infants are bound to take a toll on people’s health across the country. Such a restrictive law can potentially significantly impact public well-being and safety.
Ethical Dilemmas for Healthcare Providers and Strain on the Medical System
The current situation creates a primary ethical concern for medical organizations and women in the United States. Clinicians are bound to experience a rise in adverse outcomes stemming from self-managed abortions. This issue touches both hospitals and abortion clinics, as well as increases the burden on the U.S. healthcare system, which is already under a significant strain (Rice et al. 913).
The choice regarding termination is often complicated, as there are numerous factors related to one’s health and financial situation that weigh in on the necessity of abortion. Providers who seek to assist patients with this choice are involved in an ever-more complex decision-making process. New restrictions dilute medical facilities’ attention further, as each miscarriage case must be thoroughly assessed to avoid any potential lawsuits.
Conclusion
In conclusion, after the repeal of the Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, women in the United States are the subject of discriminatory policy practices that violate a person’s right to good health. Without the legislation of abortion on a national level, women’s position in society, as well as their well-being, are threatened by the law. States are now able to introduce authoritarian policies that hamper access to essential healthcare services despite the conflict with one’s fundamental right to bodily integrity.
Moreover, this notion increases the risk of severe physical and mental health complications among a significant part of the U.S. population. Unwanted pregnancies are not only stressful but can also lead to people seeking assistance from unqualified individuals. There is a strong need to fix this injustice, as it burdens the U.S. society with numerous legal, health, economic, and social issues. It is impossible to speak of any equality without the freedom of abortion.
Works Cited
Davis, M. F. “The State of Abortion Rights in the US.” International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, vol. 159, no. 1, 2022, pp. 324–329. Web.
Rice, Whitney S., et al. ““Post-Roe” Abortion Policy Context Heightens the Imperative for Multilevel, Comprehensive, Integrated Health Education.” Health Education & Behavior, vol. 49, no. 6, 2022, pp. 913–918. Web.