The 411 on Abortion Laws
Learn if, how and when a woman may obtain an abortion.
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Abortion Controversy - "The controversy over a woman's right to choose to have an abortion will never end," said U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland. The federal judge recently struck down a North Dakota abortion law, considered one of the country's most restrictive. Keep reading to learn about nationwide laws that regulate and limit whether, when and under what circumstances a woman may obtain an abortion. — Patrice Peck(Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
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Refusal - Individual health care providers are allowed to refuse to participate in an abortion in 46 states. Similarly, 43 states permit institutions the right to refuse to perform abortions. Sixteen of those states limit refusal to religious or private institutions. (Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
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State-Mandated Counseling - Before an abortion in 17 states, women must be given specific counseling that addresses information on at least one of the following: the claim of a link between abortion and breast cancer (five states), the ability of a fetus to feel pain (12 states) or long-term mental health consequences for the woman (eight states). (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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Hospital and Physician Requirements - In 39 states, a licensed physician is required to perform an abortion, while 18 states mandate the involvement of a second physician after a specified point. Twenty states mandate an abortion to be performed in a hospital after a certain point in the pregnancy.(Photo: Jeff Mitchell US / Reuters)
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Gestational Limits - Abortions are prohibited in 41 states after a specified point in pregnancy, most often fetal viability, which typically varies anywhere from 22 weeks to the third trimester according to studies. This law is generally enforced except when required to protect the woman's health of life. (Photo: AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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