by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – As of yesterday, May 1, abortion is banned in Florida beyond six weeks’ gestation – but Floridians will be able to vote in November on whether to enshrine abortion rights up to viability in the state constitution.
The new law has replaced Florida’s previous 15-week ban that was implemented after the US Supreme Court in 2022 revoked America’s federal right to abortion up to viability and returned the issue to individual states to decide upon.
Pro-life activists have welcomed Florida’s law, asserting it protects the lives of babies; pro-choice activists claim it will force pregnancy and childbirth on women against their will and that many women are not yet aware they are pregnant at six weeks’ gestation.
The new law allows abortion up to six weeks, following a 24-hour mandatory waiting period, an in-person consultation held at least one day before the procedure, and a ban on using telemedicine for abortions.
America’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, has stated it is carrying out ultrasounds earlier to allow women to access abortion if they choose to.
However, the Florida Supreme Court ruled on Apr.1 that Floridians can vote on the November ballot about whether to enshrine abortion access into the state constitution.
The November ballot proposal would allow abortion up to fetal viability, usually around 22 to 25 weeks gestation. The proposal reads: “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”
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