Florida’s recent enforcement of a near-total abortion ban has marked a dramatic shift in the state. Healthcare logistics and costs for women seeking abortions are set to undergo significant transformations. The impact will be felt not just in Florida, but in several Southeastern states too. We explain why
It is early hours of Wednesday in the state of Florida in the United States. A sweeping and controversial six-week abortion ban has just come into effect here. With this, women’s access to reproductive healthcare– in Florida and in the Southeast states in the US– has changed dramatically.
What does the law entail? How did Florida prepare for the implementation of this near-total ban on abortion? What will logistical and financial challenges for women look like now? Is there a chance the ban can be overturned?
What does the law entail?
Florida’s near-total abortion ban, which took effect recently, prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. This is typically around six weeks of pregnancy, often before many women even realize they are pregnant.
The law includes exceptions to save the life of the pregnant woman and in cases where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. However, these exceptions require documentation such as a restraining order, police report, medical record, or other court order.
