I have a Question.

[Still_Notafraid]

Roe vs Wade

I did not live before this decision and was wondering,before Roe vs wade were women allowed to have abortions if they were raped or if her life was endanger from the pregnancy?

[theorist]

1. If they had enough money to get to Cuba, Yes. n/t

[MountainLaurel]

2. I'd doubt it

Of course, most women didn't report rape because they knew they'd be vilified because it was all her own fault. :eyes: :grr:

[Cleita]

4. Back then rape was not considered a good reason to

terminate a pregnancy. You're only option was to have the baby and give it up for adoption.

[Cleita]

3. Nope.

But if you were very rich you could have a doctor diagnose a condition that would require you to get a D & C for your health. A D & C will terminate an early pregnancy. Also, married women who didn't want any more children could get the procedure done too for a variety of health reasons too other than pregnancy.

[Fleshdancer]

5. In Texas, an abortion could be performed if the life of the mother...

was in danger. I don't know about the other states:

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/library/ABORTION/Roe.html

Roe v. Wade: Its History and Impact

On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision in Roe v. Wade, a challenge to a Texas statute that made it a crime to perform an abortion unless a woman's life was at stake. The case had been filed by "Jane Roe," an unmarried woman who wanted to safely and legally end her pregnancy. Siding with Roe, the court struck down the Texas law. In its ruling, the court recognized for the first time that the constitutional right to privacy "is broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy" (Roe v. Wade, 1973).

[idiosyncratic]

6. Nope. But sometimes brave doctors would perform them.

I had a roommate in college who had an abortion. It was done by a doctor in our University town. He was willing to take the risk to do something that was illegal.

It cost her a fortune, considering the wages back then.

[cyn2]

7. Before Roe v. Wade

As I recall from my college years. If people were rich enough, they went to Cuba or another place where abortions were legal. The rest were performed by illegal means.

More than one of my college friends were taken to "undisclosed" locations and an abortion was performed in unsanitary conditions.

[Book Lover]

8. Like all heath matters, it was (and still is) state-by-state

New York and California had very liberal laws; others not so. The SCOTUS decision in 1973 mandated a federal minimum that had to be honored in all 50 states and the territories (though not in the military).

[Lerkfish]

9. "coat hanger" abortions were REAL.

There were SOME doctors who would quietly perform abortions, but mainly for well to do clients that had money or influence, otherwise the risk to the doctors was not worth it.
Mainly, for the normal Jane Doe, it either required taking a HUGE risk with a non-doctor, traveling to another state that might or might not have more progressive laws, or leaving the country to have it done.

Note that many of these women died from complications.

AFAIK, how the women got pregnant had no bearing on whether the abortions were more available to them...but someone can correct me on that if I'm wrong. That's just my impression.

[hollywood926]

10. Didn't stop Bush from taking his girlfriend to get one in 1970

[against all enemies]

11. As usual, abortions were available to the wealthy, the poor risked

their lives. Just like the wealthy stayed out of Vietnam, while the poor risked their lives. Just like Iraq...seeing a pattern here. The wealthy do what ever they want and the rest of us pay. Thanks you fucking idiot red state assholes.

[shraby]

12. More than one woman was found

in a hotel room who had bled to death from having an abortion. It was not a pretty time for women and young ladies. There was also no form of birth control beyond condoms, rhythym method, or shaking the head no.