Missouri Abortion Laws
BY MARGARET MIN
Hey there! Yeah, you! That’s right, we’re going to talk about everyone and their politicians’ favorite subject: abortion! Specifically, we’re going to talk about abortion in your favorite state, the good ol’ Missouri! Total disclaimer: when attempting to understand anything that the Missouri General Assembly’s (MOGA) official publications of abortion statutes, I spent most of my time thinking, “wait, what??” You’d expect that such a touchy subject would have a little more clarity for the general public, and even for legislators (I seriously don’t know how anyone can filter through all of the chapters and provisions). From the get-go, Missouri legislations do a fabulous job of confusing citizens about their abortion rights, or lack thereof. Alas, my sleuthing resorted to other sources…a little ridiculous, don’t you think?
"Missouri legislations do a fabulous job of confusing citizens about their abortion rights, or lack thereof." Some common themes to address include life endangerment, public and private insurance coverage, and regulations on institutions that provide abortion services. In a nutshell, MO organizations must do everything possible to discourage the woman from getting an abortion. According to the non-profit organization Guttmacher Institute, as of January 2017, “a woman must receive state-directed counseling that includes information designed to discourage her from having an abortion, and then wait 72 hours before the procedure is provided,” (Guttmacher, 2017). By MO law, a woman must receive counseling and only after the 72 waiting period can she come back to the facility. This significantly impacts individuals who cannot afford to make multiple trips to get an abortion – perhaps the facility is far away, or the woman cannot take time off work to return to the institution. There are virtually no regulations on what “counseling” consists of, which leads me to believe counselors are trained to indirectly perpetuate the stigma and judgement associated with abortions. “A woman must receive state-directed counseling that includes information designed to discourage her from having an abortion, and then wait 72 hours before the procedure is provided.” With respect to “life endangerment,” MO regulates all abortion coverage by including the stipulation of permissibility with evidence of “life endangerment.” Publicly funded insurance policies, aka the Affordable Care Act, can only cover abortions in cases of life endangerment of the woman. For private insurance policies, MO also mandates that insurers can only cover abortions in cases of “life endangerment,” unless the individual decides to purchase an “optional rider” at an extra cost to the already expensive private insurance coverage. Since Roe v. Wade’s legalization of abortion at the federal level, politicians have engaged in the endless public debate over what viability really means. In more conservative states, viability becomes crucial to justify severe restrictions on abortion. “Public funding is available for abortion only in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest,” according to Guttmacher. Abortions can only be provided after the fetus is deemed viable if the woman and the unborn child’s life is endangered (Guttmacher, 2017.) Because of the ambiguity of the meaning of viability, when a fetus becomes a “person,” (whether it’s considered from conception or after a few months) conservative policymakers milk it for all it’s worth, resulting in permissible regulation that makes it all but impossible for a woman to obtain an abortion. For example, under MO law there must be two medical doctors present during any abortion procedure, a minor must have parental (note, not just a guardian) consent, there exists a weird limbo period after a woman’s first consultation, and numerous other restrictions have been mobilized under the current Trump administration. The Show Me State lives up to every conservative’s expectations of abortion rights and regulations, finding loopholes in opaque definitions and methods of discouragement. As a twenty-one year old college student, an intersectional feminist, and a STL native, I am thoroughly disappointed in my abortion rights, and even in the information access my state provides. These strict regulations do not quell abortion rates, but rather force individuals to resort to illegal and often dangerous methods of abortion. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution decides on abortion regulation federally…and is run completely by men. This exemplifies how abortion regulation does not properly account for the vulnerable populations that would feel the most impact from strict regulations and defunding. MO follows suit of the male-dominated federal discussion of abortion. Why don’t we let the women speak for themselves? Under the Trump administration, I foresee stricter regulations and a greater need for individuals to advocate for our rights to our own bodies and our own decisions in our own lives. Preaching to the choir, I’m sure. |