Maine Gov. Janet Mills and legislative leaders wish to expand access to abortion — allowing abortions after 24 weeks with a physician’s approval — and take steps to guard health care providers by updating data collection policies.
Considered one of the bills would allow abortion access anytime before birth if deemed vital by a physician. Current state law bans abortions after a fetus becomes viable outside the womb, at roughly 24 weeks.
Mills, a Democrat, cited the case of a Yarmouth veterinarian, Dana Peirce, who was forced to travel to Colorado for an abortion since it was forbidden in Maine later in pregnancy. Peirce’s tests at 32 weeks revealed that the fetus had a deadly type of skeletal dysplasia.
“The choice to have an abortion is deeply personal and, as in Dana’s case, may be heartbreaking. Fundamentally, these are decisions that ought to be made by a girl and her medical provider,” Mills said.
The announcement by Mills, House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross and Senate President Troy Jackson — all Democrats — got here days ahead of what would’ve been the fiftieth anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which the U.S. Supreme Court overturned last June.
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Talbot Ross said Maine goes to protect abortion access and health care providers. “We’re serving as a lightweight that inspires others across the country by protecting those that need it and showing exactly methods to fight back,” she said.
Republicans were working on an announcement in response to the announcement.
In Maine, a Republican governor in 1993 signed a law affirming the suitable to abortion before a fetus is viable. Under current law, abortion is simply allowed after that if the life or health of the one who is pregnant is in danger, or if the pregnancy isn’t any longer viable.
Mills said she hasn’t made a choice on whether Maine should recommend a constitutional amendment to enshrine the state law. She said the matter is currently under review by the attorney general.
Peirce said she was shocked to learn during a routine screening that her son — she’d already named him Cameron — had a deadly condition and was suffering within the womb from a broken bone and other problems.
Mills said that nobody should should undergo what Peirce went through — and to should seek health care in one other state for something that was medically advisable.
“This was a extremely sad thing to occur. We did our greatest. I’m doing my best now to alter it for other people,” Mills said.
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