New York State had a reputation for being a relatively “easy” place to obtain an abortion, but actually allowed abortion only up until 20 weeks of a pregnancy, and also required that the abortion be performed by a doctor.
Earlier this month, the New York State legislature passed and the Governor signed a law, the “Reproductive Health Act,”which legalizes abortion at any time during a pregnancy, including, believe it or not, immediately before birth; furthermore, the new law allows non-doctors to perform abortions, and for all practical purposes allows abortion not only at any time but also does not require a medical reason, but states that “every individual who becomes pregnant has the fundamental right to choose to carry the pregnancy to term, to give birth to a child, or to have an abortion.”