Understanding Roe V. Wade and Abortion History

On June 24th, 2022, it was announced that Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, which caused an uprise in fear and anger. From people speaking about it on social media to protests that started nationwide. But what is it? And what will happen due to that decision the Supreme Court has made?

How did Roe V. Wade Start?

It all started on January 22nd, 1973, when a legal decision was made by the Supreme Court to legalize safe abortion methods for women, stating that a woman's choice was protected by no other than the 14th amendment in the constitution which was :

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

This allowed women ( or anyone with a uterus) a chance to seek medical treatment if they had any reason whatsoever to not be pregnant. Although it was passed, there were still some states that made it illegal.

Of course, there were (and still are) some disagreements to this decision, with the argument that the child's life should be protected and not be taken away, with other ways that you can let the child live. Some of those ways include examples such as adoption.

The History of Abortion Methods

Before Roe V. Wade, abortion was made "legal" before quickening. Quickening was a term used to describe a time at which you could feel the baby's movements, around the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. Women were provided a kind of drug which were said to help with the abortion process in the early 1800s. But, it was proven to actually be fatal.

After the legalization in the 1970s, an abortion pill called Mifepristone or RU-486 was made in France by a Pharmaceutical company at Rousell-Uclaf in Paris, France according to The Embryo Project Encyclopedia. After protests, bans, and refusal to even hear one of the test subject's experiences with the medication. It was finally approved by the FDA in the 2000s.

Medical abortion became a safer method of abortion upon the research of mifepristone, which was recommended by the FDA to remove the uterus surgically without potentially risking the mother's life. During this procedure, they dilate the uterus and place a small tube, which would suck out the fetus. The method was proved to be more effective and a lot safer.

What This Decision Can Risk

The overturn of Roe V. Wade would cause safe methods to be made illegal, leading to potential harm to the mother or the child, especially if they have no choice but to keep the child. This is a big issue, especially because it limits the right of the person to choose to be a parent or not. This can cause so many risks, which can would have been prevented.

So What Now?

Regardless of what your personal opinion is, making the decisions for others is very unfair and hurts other people who want to have that right to choose. Do what you can to share about the issue, donate to clinics that provide those safer methods, and learn more about it. The women who died making that personal choice, and the ones facing the issue today, will thank you.

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