Abortion is permitted in Georgia if requested within the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy. Abortions may be conducted on medical reasons between the ages of 12 and 22 weeks under circumstances set by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Social Affairs. The procedure can also be performed on social reasons after 14 weeks' gestation.
In general, women can obtain an abortion in Georgia up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. However, some physicians may not perform abortions beyond 20 weeks because of regulations that prohibit abortion except when the life of the mother is at risk or if the fetus has severe birth defects. Women seeking later terminations should check with their doctors to make sure that they will be allowed to go through with the procedure.
Women over the age of 18 can request abortions in Georgia. An abortion certificate is required for women over the age of 17. This certificate is issued by a doctor and must be presented at any hospital where an abortion is performed. A woman does not need to notify her parent(s) or guardian(s) about her intention to have an abortion. A physician who refuses to issue such a certificate can be charged with a crime and fined up to $10,000.
In addition to state law, Catholic hospitals in Georgia may refuse to provide abortions on religious grounds. Although these hospitals are private, they receive some government funding so they are not completely independent from the government.
Abortion is legal in Georgia, as it is in the rest of the United States. The Roe v. Wade decision of the United States Supreme Court in 1973 established this privilege. Abortion has been legal in Georgia since then.
However, abortion rights are under threat from various sources. A bill called "Heartbeat Bill" that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected has been introduced into the Georgia General Assembly. This means that at six weeks' gestation when a heart can be heard using ultrasound, abortion would be banned except where the mother's life is at risk or if the baby was diagnosed with severe disability. Another bill called "Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act" that would make it illegal for any physician to provide or assist in providing an abortion, even for pregnant women who want to do so, have been introduced. If these bills become law they will go into effect on January 1, 2020.
The American Medical Association (AMA), National Abortion Federation (NAF), and other medical organizations that represent physicians believe that these bills are unconstitutional and would have the effect of making doctors less willing to provide care for patients in need. These groups also believe that police officers could use these laws to arrest physicians who perform abortions or give advice about them.
Abortion is available in the ACT up to 16 weeks gestation through a GP (medical abortions are only available up to 8 weeks gestation) or through Marie Stopes Australia (medical abortions up to 8 weeks gestation and surgical abortions). In some situations, the Canberra Hospital may be able to deliver an abortion at a later gestation. Check with the hospital before your procedure.
Delivery of an abortion can be performed up to 20 weeks gestation. An ultrasound is usually required to determine the age of the fetus. A medical professional will perform the delivery of the abortion if it is necessary to preserve the woman's health.
An MVA can be useful for those who are less than 10 weeks pregnant and cannot travel home for an abortion. Under certain conditions, an MVA can be done as early as 9 weeks gestation. The woman must meet two requirements to be allowed this option: she must not be physically capable of carrying her pregnancy to term and there must be no risk to her life if she were to give birth now.
Women who require an abortion after their first trimester may feel more comfortable having the procedure done in a hospital. The provider should go over all options with you and offer guidance on how to manage any complications that may arise.
Legislation enacted
| State | Time limit | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Abortion outlawed | November 16, 2019 |
| Georgia | Six (6) weeks | January 1, 2020 |
| Missouri | Eight (8) weeks | August 28, 2019 |
| Ohio | Six (6) weeks | July 1, 2019 |
In the United States, abortion is allowed during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. The majority of abortions are performed during the first trimester of pregnancy. The first trimester of pregnancy refers to the first 12 weeks of a woman's pregnancy. Abortions are legal in certain places until the 24th week of pregnancy, which is towards the conclusion of the second trimester. Some states have additional restrictions on when an abortion can be performed; for example, in Texas an abortion may not be performed before 16 weeks of gestation.
An abortion in the first five months of pregnancy is called a "viable" abortion. With proper care, most women who have early abortions will not suffer any long-term effects. However many health problems can arise for women who have late-term abortions, such as cardiac arrest or blood clots. Women who have undergone late-term abortions are at increased risk for subsequent psychological issues including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Abortion in the fifth month of pregnancy or later is called a "non-viable" abortion. These pregnancies are almost always carried to term because there is no chance for the baby to survive outside the womb. Babies born after 26 weeks' gestation are extremely vulnerable to death.
Women who undergo non-viable abortions often experience severe mental trauma from which they may never fully recover.
Copyright © 2020 - 2023 Anything For Family Inc.
