Abortion laws in 1990 for canada and/or U.S.?: Writting a book?
I'm writting a book set in 1990.
The main character is raped.
she takes a preg. test and gets a false negative.
she doesnt take another one, and eventually sees the doctor.
by then, he tells her it is too late to get an abortion.
What week/month would she be in of her pregnancy then for that to occur?
2007-03-12 12:48:21 · 4 answers · asked by Sammy 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Anytime after the first trimester is illegal. This is a tough subject because I think that the woman should still have the right to whatever she wants because so many women permanently hurt themselves in cases like this by trying to give themselves an abortion.
2007-03-12 12:56:07 · answer #1 · answered by Peach 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Cora is spot on -- she would have to be well into her pregnancy (5? 6? 7? 8? months) before her doctor would tell her that "it's too late" to get an abortion, as the Row test required significant freedom to get abortions up until the 3d trimester.
Plus there were fewer regulations of abortion at the time (I believe) and more exceptions in the case of rape or to save the life/health of the mother.
What about having the doctor say that is was medically dangerous for her to have the operation (due to hemophilia or some other condition)? Perhaps post this question in the health care section and ask a doctor why an abortion would be MEDICALLY not recommended past the first trimester.
Or, if she lives in a rural place, perhaps the doctor herself refuses to perform abortions on fetuses older than the 1st trimester and there isn't any other physician available nearby??
2007-03-12 20:10:18 · answer #2 · answered by Perdendosi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it depends upon what state the story is set in. Most states, I believe it is 12 weeks is the latest anyone can get an abortion. Again, you would need to find out what state, for that is a state initiated law. Not to mention that not every state has abortion as legal. And in 1990, it might have been something different.
Sorry. . .
2007-03-12 19:59:56 · answer #3 · answered by volleyballchick (cowards block) 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In the US, abortion was protected by the 1970s decision Roe v. Wade. That decision set up a trimester approach, where (read the opinion to double-check my memory), anything within the first trimester was absolutely protected, and the second trimester was only somewhat protected subject to signifcant state regulation.
The current standard of "undue burden" (set forth in Planned Parenthood v. Casey) wouldn't come into effect until 1992.
Beyond that, you'd need to look at whatever state the story was set in, since the laws (subject to Roe) varied by state.
2007-03-12 19:52:41 · answer #4 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋