Late-term abortion takes front seat as blue state rushes to expand access before session ends
Massachusetts is poised to dramatically expand access to abortions access up to 24 weeks of pregnancy in a mad dash by Democrat lawmakers to pass the measure before the legislative...
By Fox News · Fox News
Massachusetts is poised to dramatically expand access to abortions access up to 24 weeks of pregnancy in a mad dash by Democrat lawmakers to pass the measure before the legislative session ends Friday. The Prioritizing Patients' Access to Care Act is on a fast track to clear the Massachusetts Legislature after passing the House 119-33 last week. It marks the latest effort by Democratic-led states to expand abortion protections after the Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision returned abortion policy to the states. Supporters say the New England state bill removes barriers to medically necessary care, while opponents contend it would make Massachusetts one of the nation's least restrictive states for abortions later in pregnancy. MAMDANI AND HOCHUL ANNOUNCE CASH INFUSION FOR NEW YORK CITY ABORTION ACCESS HUB EXPANSION If enacted, the bill would remove current legal requirements limiting abortions after 24 weeks to four specific circumstances — protecting the patient's life, physical health, mental health, or cases involving a lethal fetal anomaly or a grave fetal diagnosis. Instead, the bill would allow licensed physicians to decide whether an abortion after 24 weeks is appropriate based on their own medical judgment. It would also prevent third-party medical reviewers from overruling decisions made by a patient and their doctor. The proposal mirrors a law Maine enacted in 2023 that similarly allows late-term abortions based on a physician's judgment. "The goal of passing this legislation is simple. Medical decisions should be made by a patient and their doctor," bill sponsor Rep. Lindsay N. Sabadosa, D-Northampton, said in a statement. "Massachusetts has one of the best health care systems in the country, and patients should be able to rely on their providers to deliver medically appropriate care without restrictions that can fail to account for the complexity of individual medical circumstances." "By removing those barriers, we…