Abortion Policies in Turmoil: Record High Abortions Amidst State-Level Restrictions and Changing Legal Landscape

Austin, Texas United States of America
14 states have enacted total or near-total abortion bans.
Four states have enshrined reproductive freedom in their constitutions. More than a dozen passed 'trigger' laws.
Nearly two-thirds of all abortions in 2023 were medication abortions.
Patients and providers face challenges navigating patchwork of abortion policies, including mandatory waiting periods and travel for care.
Two years after Roe v. Wade overturned, US sees record high abortions despite state-level restrictions.
Abortion Policies in Turmoil: Record High Abortions Amidst State-Level Restrictions and Changing Legal Landscape

Two years have passed since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to an abortion and sparking a contentious debate on reproductive rights at the state level.

As of now, 14 states have enacted total or near-total bans on abortion, including Alabama, Texas, Idaho and Tennessee. Despite this trend towards restrictive policies, the number and rate of abortions in 2023 reached their highest point in over a decade.

Nearly two-thirds of all abortions in 2023 were medication abortions, not including self-managed medication abortions outside of the healthcare setting. The US Food and Drug Administration has relaxed some restrictions for use of the abortion pill, leading to increased access to medication abortion.

Abortion policies have rapidly changed in many states since Roe was overturned. Four states - California, Michigan, Vermont and Ohio - have enshrined rights to reproductive freedom in their constitutions. More than a dozen states passed 'trigger' laws ahead of the court decision, meant to take effect almost immediately if Roe was overturned.

Patients and providers have faced challenges navigating a patchwork of sometimes hastily implemented abortion policies that include mandatory waiting periods, limits on Medicaid coverage for abortion, and vague language around medical emergency exceptions to abortion bans. In the first half of 2023, nearly 1 in 5 people who had an abortion traveled across state lines for care.

The Supreme Court recently rejected a challenge to access to the abortion pill, mifepristone, maintaining widespread access to medication abortion through mailing of the pills to patients without an in-person doctor's visit. However, in February 2023, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are considered human beings and those who destroy them can be held liable for wrongful death.

As families across the state lost access to IVF treatments due to this ruling, lawmakers scrambled to pass a law aimed at protecting IVF patients and providers from legal liability. The patchwork of abortion policies continues to evolve as advocates on both sides push for their respective agendas.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • Are all states accurately reporting their abortion numbers?
  • What are the exact implications of 'trigger' laws for patients and providers?

Sources

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

A state-by-state breakdown of abortion laws 2 years after Roe was overturned

ABC NEWS SITE NAMES Name: ABC News Site Names URL: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-officially-blames-iran_106834435 ABC News Saturday, 22 June 2024 20:55
  • Unique Points
    • Alabama has banned abortions at all stages of pregnancy unless medically necessary for the woman’s health or life. Patients must wait 48 hours after counseling, receive an ultrasound, and cannot use telehealth for medication abortions.
    • In Alaska, there are no laws restricting abortion based on gestational age.
  • Accuracy
    • ]The US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, ending the constitutional right to an abortion and allowing states to decide on access.[/1] and [
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

86%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade 2 years ago. Here’s what’s happened since

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Lauren Mascarenhas Saturday, 22 June 2024 13:06
  • Unique Points
    • Two years ago, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to an abortion and setting off a fierce fight for reproductive rights at the state level.
    • As of 2023, 14 states have total or near-total bans on abortion, including Alabama, Texas, Idaho and Tennessee.
    • Despite an increase in restrictive policies, the number and rate of abortions in 2023 hit their highest point in over a decade.
    • Nearly two-thirds of all abortions in 2023 were medication abortions, not including self-managed medication abortions outside of the healthcare setting.
    • The US Food and Drug Administration has relaxed some restrictions for use of the abortion pill, and access to the medication increased over the years.
    • Abortion policies have changed rapidly in many states since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe. Four states - California, Michigan, Vermont and Ohio - have since enshrined rights to reproductive freedom in their constitutions.
    • More than a dozen states passed abortion ‘trigger’ laws ahead of the court’s decision, meant to take effect almost immediately in the event that Roe was overturned, and at least seven states without trigger laws have followed suit with restrictive reproductive health policies.
    • Patients and providers have struggled to navigate a patchwork of sometimes hastily implemented abortion policies that include mandatory waiting periods, limits on Medicaid coverage for abortion, and vague language around medical emergency exceptions to abortion bans.
    • In just the first half of 2023, nearly 1 in 5 people who had an abortion - more than 92,000 people - traveled across state lines for abortion care.
    • The Supreme Court recently rejected a challenge to access to the abortion pill, mifepristone, maintaining widespread access to medication abortion in a ruling that will allow for continued mailing of the pills to patients without an in-person doctor’s visit.
    • In February 2023, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are considered human beings and those who destroy them can be held liable for wrongful death, causing fertility clinics throughout the state to pause in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments out of fear of legal prosecution.
    • As families across the state lost access to IVF treatments, lawmakers scrambled to meet the widespread demand for a fix. In March 2023, the state passed a law aimed at protecting IVF patients and providers from the legal liability imposed on them by the state court’s ruling.
  • Accuracy
    • ]Two years ago, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to an abortion and setting off a fierce fight for reproductive rights at the state level.[
    • As of 2023, 14 states have total or near-total bans on abortion.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author focuses on the increase in abortions since Roe v. Wade was overturned without mentioning that this increase is due to the loss of access to abortion in states with bans, leading readers to believe that there is an overall trend towards more abortions rather than a response to restrictive policies. Additionally, the author uses emotional language such as 'compromised fertility' and 'life-threatening consequences' when describing the effects of these policies on patients.
    • Despite an increase in restrictive policies, the number and rate of abortions in 2023 hit their highest point in over a decade...
    • The number and rate of abortions in 2023 hit their highest point in over a decade...
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author makes several statements that contain appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. However, these do not constitute fallacies as they are valid reporting of facts and the author's opinions are clearly stated. The author also uses dichotomous depictions by describing states with abortion bans versus those without, but this is a valid way to compare and contrast different situations. No formal logical fallacies were found in the article.
    • ][The loss of abortion access in states with bans] was countered by 'Efforts on the part of clinics, abortion funds and logistical support organizations to help people...access care.'[[
    • More than a dozen states passed 'abortion 'trigger' laws' ahead of the court's decision,' and at least seven states without trigger laws have followed suit with restrictive reproductive health policies.
    • Patients and providers have struggled to navigate a patchwork of sometimes hastily implemented abortion policies that include mandatory waiting periods, limits on Medicaid coverage for abortion, and vague language around medical emergency exceptions to abortion bans.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Abortion clinics reinvented themselves after Dobbs. They're still struggling

USA Today Saturday, 22 June 2024 00:00
  • Unique Points
    • Austin Women’s Health Center saw its finances tank after the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade
    • Medical director Dr. L.L. ‘Tad’ Davis has not taken a salary in over a year and is not charging rent for the building he owns
  • Accuracy
    • Austin Women’s Health Center saw reduced services and hours leading to financial struggles
    • Dozens of abortion clinics closed or relocated, worsening access to reproductive health care nationwide
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Nationwide women's strike expected on Monday

Scripps News Stephanie Liebergen Friday, 21 June 2024 18:09
  • Unique Points
    • On Monday, women and allies are planning a nationwide women’s strike.
    • The organizers are calling for supporters to wear red, stay home from work and school, and not spend any money unless it’s at a women-owned business.
  • Accuracy
    • Women's strikes, walkouts and protests are being organized on a variety of digital platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Eventbrite and more.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

88%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Here’s the state of abortion rights now in the US

The Associated Press News Friday, 21 June 2024 04:05
  • Unique Points
    • The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, sparking legislative action, protest, and numerous lawsuits.
    • Out of just over a million abortions, more than 161,000 (or 16%) were for people who crossed state lines to get them.
    • Nearly two-thirds of known abortions last year were provided with pills rather than procedures, and pills are prescribed via telehealth and mailed to about 6,000 people a month who live in states with abortion bans.
    • The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rejected an effort by abortion opponents to overturn or roll back the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, one of two drugs usually used together for medication abortions.
    • Abortion is a key issue in the 2024 presidential election with access being a central theme in Democrats’ campaigns, while Republicans support states deciding whether to restrict abortions.
    • Voters have sided with abortion rights advocates in every statewide policy-related vote since 2022.
    • The Dobbs ruling and its aftermath have given rise to numerous legal questions and lawsuits challenging nearly every ban and restriction, including how exceptions should apply.
  • Accuracy
    • The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.
    • Abortion is now banned at all stages of pregnancy with limited exceptions in 14 Republican-controlled states and barred after about the first six weeks in three other states.
    • Most Democratic-led states have taken actions to protect abortion rights and become sanctuaries for out-of-state patients seeking care.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article makes several statements that could be considered deceptive according to the analysis rules. The author uses emotional manipulation by describing the struggles and hardships faced by people seeking abortions in states with restrictive laws. This is an attempt to elicit an emotional response from readers and sway their opinion on the issue. Additionally, there are instances of selective reporting, as the article focuses on the negative consequences of abortion restrictions while omitting any discussion of potential benefits or counterarguments. For example, it mentions that 'most Democratic-led states have taken actions to protect abortion rights,' but does not provide any context or information about why these states might be taking such actions. This creates a biased and one-sided view of the issue.
    • The June 24, 2022, ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization sparked legislative action, protest and numerous lawsuits – placing the issue at the center of politics across the country.
    • That translates into higher costs for gas or plane tickets, hotels and meals; more logistics to figure out, including child care; and more days off work.
    • More than two-thirds of abortions done in Kansas and New Mexico were for out-of-staters, particularly Texans.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication