Current attempts to destroy the right to abortion, if successful, will return us to a pre-1973 Roe vs. Wade world of restrictions.
Working at Family Planning Alternatives and Women’s Community Clinic in San Jose allowed me to see the difference between the pre- and post-Roe eras. I heard the horrors of illegal, back-alley abortions. So the moment the Supreme Court decision was announced, women showed up spontaneously on Market Street in San Francisco to celebrate their joy and freedom. Shortly thereafter, our clinic began offering low-cost, safe, legal and accessible abortions onsite. Women no longer needed to go to a hospital to have their abortions. During that period, I held the hands of hundreds of women during their safe, legal abortions.
Before the decision, California was one of the few states with legalized abortions. California’s law, prior to Roe v. Wade, required every woman to be seen by two psychiatrists, who would attest in writing the pregnancy would be detrimental to the woman’s health. In addition, she had to be seen by a gynecologist to make sure she was early enough in the pregnancy for a safe abortion. Once she jumped through these hoops, she could schedule her abortion. Imagine teen girls taking on these tasks. The law’s requirements were an impediment, making it challenging, sometimes impossible, for women to get an abortion. These steps often delayed the woman long enough, so it was too late, and she was forced to carry the pregnancy to term.
Our patients told us of nightmare back-alley procedures with less than credentialed practitioners. Some crossed the border to Mexico to have what turned out to be unsafe abortions. Many of those abortion providers did not complete the job. The women returned scared, weak and bleeding, ending up in American emergency rooms. Doctors had to perform a Dilation and Curettage (D&C) to be sure their uterus was clean and infection free. Eventually, the bleeding would stop, but the woman would be left to recover from her ordeal without clinical or counseling support.
Women in Texas now live under the draconian ban prohibiting all abortions after six weeks. The Texas ban not only makes it illegal to perform an abortion after six weeks, it also makes it a crime for anyone to facilitate an abortion, including the Uber driver or a friend who drives a woman to a clinic. Even pre-Roe, a taxi driver was not a criminal for providing transportation to the hospital. The anti-choice forces have turned back the clock 50 years, and 26 states are planning similar restrictive legislation.
Wealthy women will always have access to abortion, as in the past. Before it was legal, wealthier women would fly to Sweden or other countries offering safe, legal abortions. Similarly, Oklahoma clinics are now overwhelmed with Texas women of means seeking abortions. They can drive or fly to a legal facility in another state and get the best of care. Poor women will not be able to afford to travel, take time off work and afford an abortion. Many will have to bring the pregnancy to term or resort to unsafe techniques, risking their lives. As a result, certainly some will die.
On Oct. 2, women and men rose up across the nation to protest the Texas ban. Throughout the year, we must make our voices heard through actions and advocacy, to let the Supreme Court and our legislators know we will not let this denial of our rights succeed.
Susyn Almond was an organizer of the Oct. 2, 2021 Reproductive Rights Rally.
