U.S. Repro Watch provides periodic updates of news of interest on U.S. reproductive rights. Here are six recent updates you won’t want to miss:

IL woman sues hospital

1. An Illinois woman sued a hospital after being denied an abortion for an ectopic pregnancy.

• In the lawsuit, Harmonie Perrone said an Illinois OB-GYN turned her away, despite being told she has a “1 percent chance” of a viable pregnancy. State law explicitly protects abortion access for emergency conditions like ectopic pregnancies.
• Because she was forced to wait so long for care, Perrone lost her last remaining fallopian tube and will not be able to get pregnant again without in vitro fertilization (IVF).
• Perrone is suing for damages to cover the costs for IVF, and for “the immense pain and suffering she endured when medical providers substituted their own values and priorities for hers.”

Court blocks parental consent law

2. The Nevada Supreme Court blocked a law forcing minors to obtain parental consent before having an abortion.

• The court ruled that the law is “unconstitutionally vague” and sent it back to a lower court for the case to proceed.
• The parental consent requirement went into effect for the first time last year, after a federal court lifted a 40-year-old ruling blocking the law.
• 37 states currently have parental consent or notification requirements.

YouTuber speaks on abortion decision

3. Popular YouTuber Jesse Ridgway and his wife are continuing to make national headlines over their decision to get an abortion.

• Last week, on social media, the couple announced their decision to get an abortion after receiving a fetal diagnosis of Trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome.
• The announcement drew both mass support and backlash, with the Ridgways even receiving death threats.
• Still, Ridgway has vowed to continue speaking out to help normalize decisions around abortion care.

SD sued over abortion pill ad ban

4. A reproductive health group sued South Dakota over a ban on abortion pill advertisements.

• Nonprofit group Mayday Health filed the lawsuit, arguing that prohibiting ads violates free-speech rights.
• The law bans the dispensing, distribution, sale, or advertisement of abortion pills.
• This lawsuit continues a battle between South Dakota’s attorney general and Mayday Health over billboards across the state with information about accessing abortion pills.

AL threatens companies over abortion pills

5. Alabama threatened legal action against six companies over abortion pills.

• Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issued cease-and-desist letters to six companies, including Plan C, accusing them of advertising and mailing abortion pills into the state.
• Marshall argues that the companies are violating the state’s total abortion ban and threatened legal action if they do not stop activities in Alabama.
• Alabama also joined several other states in a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pushing unfounded claims that the abortion pill mifepristone is contaminating drinking water.

States push abortion-related bills

6. Several state legislatures are pushing forward abortion-related bills.

• In Ohio, lawmakers are considering a bill that would add the abortion pill mifepristone into a state “watch list” of high-risk drugs and make it harder to access. Anti-abortion politicians advancing the bill cite debunked claims questioning the safety of the drug.
• Arizona legislators advanced a bill that would criminalize interference with religious activities, which could shield anti-abortion protestors.
• A final vote on a bill in New Jersey could strengthen the state’s shield law protecting reproductive health care, including by penalizing anyone who blocks access to an abortion clinic.

Did you know?

Did you know?

The number of people seeking financial and logistical support to access abortion care has nearly doubled since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Many abortion funds reported an increase in out-of-state travel, driving up costs. This growing need for care and support nationwide has further stretched abortion funds and their limited resources as they assist in the cost and travel for care. Now, the rising cost of gas for travel is adding strain on these funds and making it harder to support the many who need care.

A new nationwide survey on people’s maternal health care experiences found that many are facing greater barriers and worse outcomes. Approximately 40% of people seeking pregnancy-related care report feeling disrespected and dismissed by their providers. Many also report high rates of anxiety and depression before, during, and after pregnancy. Research shows that doulas and midwives improve these health outcomes, but many people are unable to access the quality care they want, due in part to limited insurance coverage.

Coming up

Coming up

June 24: Anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

• June 24th marks four years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
• In that time, 17 states have banned abortion entirely or very early in pregnancy, while 10 states have voted to enact constitutional protections for abortion.
• Check out the Center’s new report on reproductive rights litigation since Roe fell.

Learn more