| The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) conclude that if EC were available to all women in the U.S., 1.2M unintended pregnancies could be avoided and the annual number of abortions would be reduced by 800,000. |
| To ensure reproductive health care remains accessible for Wisconsin patients. |
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|  | | Federal Abortion Ban The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal abortion ban which criminalizes abortions in the second trimester of pregnancy that doctors say are safe and the best to protect women's health. Leading ob/gyns at major medical institutions testified against the ban because it would prevent them from providing the care that is best to protect their patients' health. The ACOG, the American Nurses Association and many other medical groups oppose the federal ban. Until now, every court that examined the ban struck it down because, among other things, it fails to protect women's health.
Wisconsin Abortion Ban
With the Federal Abortion Ban already in effect in Wisconsin, certain second trimester abortions are illegal and any physician who provides these proceedures can be convicted of a federal crime. Despite this, the state legislature is expected to pass an additional and unnecessary bill that mirrors the federal law. This state ban would further drive a wedge between a physician and the patient. It would potentially increases provider penalities and would give local district attorneys and law enforcement agencies the power to investigate physicians on the basis that they might be peforming banned proceedures.
Wisconsin’s Criminal Abortion Statute Wisconsin’s statute has been on the books since 1849; after Roe v. Wade the law became unenforceable. Physicians who perform abortions can be charged with a felony, fined up to $50,000 and imprisoned for up to 15 years. Women who obtain abortions can be charged with a felony, fined up to $10,000 and imprisoned for up to 3 ½ years. There are no exceptions for rape victims or for women who need an abortion to preserve their health. The only exception is when a woman’s life is in danger as agreed upon by two physicians. |
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