Pregnant women in Florida must show evidence of rape or incest if they want an abortion after six weeks, according to the new law signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis.
In addition, if the mother’s life is in danger, two doctors must confirm this in writing before a pregnancy can be terminated.
Those are just some of the heavy restrictions in the law the Republican governor signed into law on Thursday, banning abortions after six weeks — one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country.
The ban makes exceptions for the life of the mother and for cases of rape or incest – but only under certain, specific conditions.
Senator Lauren Book, seated right, along with Democratic Chairman Nikki Fried, seated left, and about a dozen activists protesting Florida’s abortion law
The abortion issue has become a national issue — especially after a Texas judge reversed FDA approval of the popular abortion pill mifepristone. The Supreme Court on Friday ordered a stay of that decision as the ruling is being challenged in court.
But across the country, states are enacting abortion bans. Florida joins a dozen others in banning them after six weeks, which is essentially an outright ban since most women don’t realize they’re pregnant until after that point.
The limitations and exceptions in Florida law include:
- Two doctors must certify in writing that an abortion is necessary to save the woman’s life or avert a serious health risk. This does not include the mental health aspects of a woman’s life.
- If two doctors are unavailable, one must declare in writing that there is a medical need and that no other doctor is available.
- In the case of rape or incest, when a woman plans or arrives for her abortion, she must do so provide a copy of any restraining order, police report, medical record or other court order or documentation proving her victim status.
- Abortions are allowed if the pregnancy has not progressed to the third trimester and two doctors certify in writing that the fetus has a fatal fetal abnormality.
- Abortion pills must be dispensed personally by doctors, with abortions during telehealth visits and the delivery of abortion pills by mail banned.
Breaking the law is a third-degree felony.
Florida had a ban on abortions after just six weeks.
That ban is being challenged in the Florida Supreme Court by the Center for Reproductive Rights and other groups. A ruling on that ban can also have consequences for the ban on abortion after six weeks. It is unclear when the state Supreme Court will rule.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signing the bill into law, surrounded by several dozen legislators
Democratic state representative Anna Eskamani called DeSantis a “coward” for signing it late at night
DeSantis also signed the 15-week ban and did so in a large public ceremony.
In contrast, he signed the six-week suspension late at night with little fanfare. He was joined by state legislators who voted in favor.
While most Republicans support banning abortion — especially long-term abortion — polls show that many think a six-week ban, like the one DeSantis just signed, goes too far. Many women do not realize they are pregnant after six weeks.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that about 50% of Americans strongly opposed a six-week abortion ban, including 44% of Republicans.
“DeSantis is a coward who doesn’t want Floridians to know about his extreme anti-abortion platform, which is why he signed this bill into law as soon as possible and without press coverage,” said Democratic state representative Anna Eskamani, who is one of the of the leaders opposed to the bill.
Meanwhile, abortion rights activists decried the law’s restrictions.
Florida lawmakers rushed this dangerous ban through the legislature without concern for their citizens and how it will harm them. This bill threatens to almost completely end abortion amid a growing public health crisis. If this ban goes into effect, Floridians would be stranded in a vast abortion desert and forced to travel more than 1,000 miles to have an abortion,” Elisabeth Smith, director of state policy and advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement. .
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a ban on abortions after six weeks
And other activists criticized DeSantis for using the issue for his own political ambitions. DeSantis has not yet announced a presidential bid, but is expected to do so later this summer.
‘Govern. DeSantis, and many Florida legislators, are determined to tyrannically control our bodies. This shameful abortion ban is just the tip of the iceberg,” Laura Goodhue, executive director of Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, said in a statement.
“These political movements are having devastating effects on the health of our communities, and they go against the will of the Floridians. Governor DeSantis’s audition for president doesn’t define us as Floridians.”
In a speech at Liberty University in Virginia on Friday, DeSantis failed to mention the restrictive new abortion law he signed into law in his state the night before when speaking to the heavily pro-life crowd.
DeSantis’ signature to Florida’s abortion law could help him among GOP voters in a presidential primary as he solidifies his conservative credentials.
But polls also show that a majority of Americans support abortion rights.
This means the new law could dog it among independent and swing voters in national elections.
Democrats have vowed to make abortion rights a national issue in the 2024 presidential race, especially after using it to successfully mobilize voters in 2022. Republicans failed to win widespread victories in that midterm election.