Map: Abortion Laws and Access in the South
Since the original ruling more than 40 years ago, Americans consistently have opposed overturning Roe v. Wade. As a result, the strategy that abortion opponents turn to is restricting and eliminating safe and legal abortion access via technicality and needless regulation. And in several states, particularly in the Southern United States, they’re finding success. One of the most popular tactics is called “admitted privileges.” It requires physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a local hospital. Three states — Missouri, North Dakota and Utah — require abortion providers to have admitting privileges. Eight other state legislatures have passed admitting privilege requirements that are currently blocked from enforcement, although the Supreme Court is set to hear a case about one such law from Louisiana.
We all want to protect patient safety. But these bills don’t make patients safe. Providers already have plans in place in case of an emergency to ensure patient safety. These bills are intended to put up another obstacle in the way of safe and legal abortion. The result of targeted restrictions against abortion providers (TRAP) laws like admitting privileges is fewer providers and less access.
Abortion Law Map - Southern U.S.
Opposing Abortion Laws in the South and Across the Nation
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association oppose TRAP laws. Just hear what they said about admitting privileges alone:
“There is no medical basis to require abortion providers to have local hospital admitting privileges.”
“Emergency room physicians, hospital-based physicians, and on-call specialists already provide prompt and effective treatment to all patients with urgent medical needs, including women with abortion-related complications… Unless there is a substantial public health justification, legislators should not interfere with patient care, medical decisions, and the patient-physician relationship.”