Doctor floats plan for offshore abortion clinic in the Gulf

Doctor floats plan for offshore abortion clinic in the Gulf to bypass state abortion bans

it's been two weeks since the Supreme Court overturned *** woman's constitutional right to an abortion and things are changing fast. The last clinic in Mississippi, the location of this now infamous Supreme Court challenge shut its doors with tensions still at *** high, Nearly 80% of the country now has some level of abortion restrictions and even some of those already restrictive states are planning to tighten their laws. I'm grateful that the Supreme Court has given us the American people the opportunity to work this out ourselves, which is what this country is all about. People are going to be hurt because of this because of this decision. And knowing that is very heavy, 13 states enacted their trigger bands meaning the June decision automatically banned abortion. In those places, abortion rights advocates have been trying to stave off *** range of bands through the legal system, including successfully in places like Utah and Kentucky, but unsuccessfully in Mississippi and texas. There's certainly some that ongoing court battles in dozens of states. Mean laws can change quickly. We've got some really positive trends protecting the lives of unborn Children. We also have some very negative trends, you know, really pushing for extreme abortion policies. The patchwork of laws already causing governors in less restrictive states to show support California, is considering more than *** dozen pieces of legislation to expand rights colorado is preparing for an influx of out of staters and leaders in states like new york massachusetts Connecticut north Carolina and more say they will protect abortion providers from extradition or criminal charges for providing care. But many states are at somewhat of an impasse. Kansas has *** valid initiative for *** vote on august 2nd michigan is trying to do the same for its midterm election. And in places like pennsylvania with *** GOP legislature and *** Democratic governor blocking any anti abortion legislation, midterms are becoming even more crucial for both movements. And as these states try to work everything out whether they are restricting abortion, whether there are exceptions in the cases of rape, incest, life of the mother, there's also concern what the future for reproductive care as *** whole could look like. Whether we could see IVF really at risk in some of these more restrictive states, Whether we could see plan be taken off the shelves in some of these states and of course the medication used for some abortions is used for other access for other health issues as well, concerns about those being forbidden to. So there's still *** lot to work out here and we really are starting to see this becoming *** state by state issue, no matter where you live

Doctor floats plan for offshore abortion clinic in the Gulf to bypass state abortion bans

A California doctor is proposing a floating abortion clinic in the Gulf of Mexico as a way to maintain access for people in southern states where abortion bans have been enacted.The idea is to provide a clinic aboard a ship in federal waters, and out of reach of state laws, that would offer first-trimester surgical abortions, contraception and other care, said Dr. Meg Autry, an obstetrician and gynecologist and a professor at the University of California San Francisco."There's been an assault on reproductive rights in our country and I'm a lifelong advocate for reproductive health and choice. We have to create options and be thoughtful and creative to help people in restrictive states get the health care they deserve," she told The Associated Press.Autry said the idea is only in the fundraising stage through the nonprofit organization, "PRROWESS" — short for "Protecting Reproductive Rights Of Women Endangered by State Statutes."The proposal comes as abortion access in the southern United States has been swiftly curtailed after the U.S. Supreme Court turned the issue of abortion back to the states.Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas have had abortion bans take effect. A Florida law, which is in effect after a legal back-and-forth, prohibits abortions after 15 weeks, with exceptions if the procedure is necessary to save a life, prevent serious injury or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality.Autry said their legal team believes there is a swath of federal water where licensed providers could safely and legally provide abortions out of reach of state laws. For women in southern states with abortion bans, going to the coast and boarding a boat may be closer and easier than trying to travel to a state where abortion remains legal, she said."This is closer and faster access for some people, particularly for working people that live in the southernmost part of these states," she said.Autry said they are still trying to work out many of the details such as where the boat will launch and how women would get to the ship.

A California doctor is proposing a floating abortion clinic in the Gulf of Mexico as a way to maintain access for people in southern states where abortion bans have been enacted.

The idea is to provide a clinic aboard a ship in federal waters, and out of reach of state laws, that would offer first-trimester surgical abortions, contraception and other care, said Dr. Meg Autry, an obstetrician and gynecologist and a professor at the University of California San Francisco.

"There's been an assault on reproductive rights in our country and I'm a lifelong advocate for reproductive health and choice. We have to create options and be thoughtful and creative to help people in restrictive states get the health care they deserve," she told The Associated Press.

Autry said the idea is only in the fundraising stage through the nonprofit organization, "PRROWESS" — short for "Protecting Reproductive Rights Of Women Endangered by State Statutes."

The proposal comes as abortion access in the southern United States has been swiftly curtailed after the U.S. Supreme Court turned the issue of abortion back to the states.

Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas have had abortion bans take effect. A Florida law, which is in effect after a legal back-and-forth, prohibits abortions after 15 weeks, with exceptions if the procedure is necessary to save a life, prevent serious injury or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality.

Autry said their legal team believes there is a swath of federal water where licensed providers could safely and legally provide abortions out of reach of state laws. For women in southern states with abortion bans, going to the coast and boarding a boat may be closer and easier than trying to travel to a state where abortion remains legal, she said.

"This is closer and faster access for some people, particularly for working people that live in the southernmost part of these states," she said.

Autry said they are still trying to work out many of the details such as where the boat will launch and how women would get to the ship.

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