The Supreme Court agreed to hear Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which asks if “all pre-viability prohibitions on elective abortions are unconstitutional.”
The case involves a 2018 Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15 weeks.
Jackson Women’s Health Organization is the only abortion clinic in Mississippi. It brought the case against Thomas Dobbs, the State Health Officer of the Mississippi Department of Health.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the law. SCOTUS precedent does not allow states to ban abortion before fetal viability, which is around 24 weeks.
Mississipi wants the justices to reexamine the accepted viability timeframe:
In the case, Mississippi is asking the justices to reexamine that viability standard. The state argued that the viability rule prevented states from adequately defending maternal health and potential life.“It is well past time for the Court to revisit the wisdom of the viability bright-line rule,” Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch wrote in a brief filed with the justices.
Babies born at 22 or 23 weeks can survive with “experienced specialists in state-of-the-art NICUs.” It’s a slim chance, but a chance:
For babies born at 23 weeks or earlier who do survive, the odds of significant complications and/or lasting disabilities are much higher than for those that stay in the womb a few weeks longer.A 2015 study showed that babies born at 22 weeks may also have a small chance at survival, but death or serious health issues have an even higher probability of occurring.Also, note that according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, babies born before 23 weeks have a survival rate of just 5% to 6%. Of those that do survive, 98% to 100% have substantial complications and/or disability.
A pregnant woman can feel her baby move around 13-16 weeks. Around that time the movement feels more like a flutter, but she still feels the baby move. It becomes more pronounced around 20 weeks.
A pregnant woman can also find out the sex of her baby as early as 14 weeks. The ultrasound is generally taken between 18-21 weeks, but still, she can find out at 14 weeks. Maybe even earlier if she chooses to take the amino test to find out if the baby has any disorders.
More importantly, you can detect the baby’s heartbeat at six weeks via ultrasound.
Anyway, Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization presents an opportunity for the three justices appointed by former President Donald Trump.
However, I’ve noticed that SCOTUS justices take the easy way out by claiming they have to follow precedence despite science proving life begins at conception and a baby can survive at 22 weeks.
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