New York abortion law: Why are so many people talking about it?

On the 46th anniversary of the landmark US ruling that made abortion legal, New York state signed into law a new abortion rights bill. Why is it so controversial?

The Reproductive Health Act (RHA) has been seen by some as a necessary move to safeguard abortion rights should the Supreme Court overturn the ruling, known as Roe v Wade.

And it comes at a time when states such as Mississippi, Iowa and Ohio are rolling back abortion provisions.

While others see it as an “extreme” and “inhumane” expansion of abortion access.

The act removes the need for a doctor to perform some abortions and takes abortion out of the criminal code, making it a public health issue.

However, the most controversial aspect of the RHA is the provision allowing abortions after 24 weeks in cases where there is an “absence of foetal viability, or the abortion is necessary to protect the patient’s life or health”.

The RHA has caused an intense and heated debate about how abortion is regulated in New York, with impassioned arguments made on each side.

We heard some of those views.

‘Devastating’

In 2016, Erika Christensen was pregnant and living in New York with her husband. The couple were thrilled.

However, at 31 weeks, she found out that her pregnancy was “nonviable”, meaning that the baby would not survive outside the womb.

Ms Christensen told the BBC that she “didn’t know about the law” banning abortion in New York beyond 24 weeks.

“We wanted to end the suffering of this child. It was a simple choice.”

After doing some research she realised she would have to leave the state to terminate her pregnancy.

She borrowed $10,000 (£7,600) from her mum, and flew halfway across the country to have an abortion in Colorado.

“I know I am lucky. I am middle-class and have access to those kinds of resources. But it was still really devastating.

“The laws of New York made the grieving process so much harder,” Ms Christensen said. “There is an inherent shame in having to leave your state to do this. It made a bad situation so much worse.”

Since then, she has campaigned for New York to change its laws on abortion.

She hopes that the RHA will help women in a similar situation to her “work through their grief without having to fight the system”.

“These women should be able to focus on healing.”

‘Time to double down’

Christina Fadden, chair of the pro-life organisation New York State Right to Life, told the BBC she was “extremely saddened” by the RHA being signed into law.

Ms Fadden said it was “horrific” that “there is now no protection for unborn children in the state of New York”.

She disputes the assertion that the RHA is a necessary update the the state’s law, and suggests that allowing abortions beyond 24 weeks is “inhumane”.

“I have got a fire in my belly and it’s time to double down on fighting this,” she said.

Ms Fadden is also concerned that the RHA makes abortion a “fundamental right” for women in New York, and will lead to “pro-life viewpoint suppression”.

She told the BBC that her organisation has been “overwhelmed” by the number of people contacting them to volunteer in the wake of the RHA’s ratification.

“We are still formulating our response, but we have to double our efforts.”

Source: BBC News