The Reproductive Health Act: Protecting the Health and Safety of the Women of New York

In April 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a dangerous ruling in Carhart v. Gonzalez. For the first time since Roe v. Wade was decided 35 years ago, the Court upheld an abortion restriction that eroded the protection of a woman's health.

In the face of increasing attacks on reproductive rights, New York’s abortion laws need to be strengthened to reflect current medical practice and to protect women’s health and safety.

The Reproductive Health Act is needed because:

New York laws fail to protect women’s health. There is no health exception in New York's abortion laws. We must protect women in the face of aggressive federal attacks on their health and rights. If the federal government continues to chip away at reproductive rights, New York’s law will be insufficient to protect a woman’s health.

An individual's right to make private health care decisions must be protected. A woman facing an unplanned or problem pregnancy should have the opportunity to make the best decision for herself and her family, whether her decision is continuing the pregnancy, adoption, or abortion. In light of increasing federal attacks on the rights of individuals to make difficult and personal health care decisions, the Reproductive Health Act will ensure that in the end, women are able to make the decision that is right for themselves and their loved ones.


Myths and Facts Regarding the Reproductive Health Act

Myth: The Reproductive Health Act would force religiously affiliated hospitals to provide abortion services.
Fact: The Act does not change state and federal laws that allow providers to refrain from performing abortions based on their moral or religious beliefs.

 

Myth: The Reproductive Health Act would allow unqualified medical professionals to provide abortion services.
Fact: The Reproductive Health Act contains strong protections for women by allowing only qualified medical professionals, with the proper training and who are operating within the scope of their practice, to provide abortion services. It is professional misconduct for a medical professional to offer care outside the scope of his or her practice. New York law currently subjects medical professionals to penalties for practicing outside the scope of their practice.  

Myth: The Reproductive Health Act would legalize abortion through all nine months of pregnancy.
Fact: Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision, placed clear limits on when a woman could access abortion services. The Reproductive Health Act is consistent with the tenets of Roe v. Wade, and would thus allow abortion up to the time of viability and after that, only if there is a threat to the woman’s health or life.

Check out this video about the Reproductive Health Act