Arizona Signs Most Restrictive Abortion Law Yet

There is an argument that life begins at conception, rather than at viability. But one American politician has decided that life actually begins at a mother’s last period when she’s not even pregnant! Sounds ridiculous, right? But that didn’t stop Arizona governor Jan Brewer from signing a bill into law that says life begins two weeks before conception.

I’m no scientist, but something’s not right here. This law will severely limit women’s access to abortion by shortening the time period during which they can legally obtain one, and will practically eliminate medical abortions (the abortion pill) that need to be done in the first few weeks of pregnancy.

The same bill, which is hideously called the Women’s Health and Safety Act, also bans abortions 20 weeks after conception. Don’t forget, conception now starts two weeks before you actually get pregnant (or more if you have a cycle longer than 28 days like most women!), so you’d better start counting.

Twenty weeks may sound like a long time to decide to have an abortion, but in reality it will severely limit women’s access to the medical procedure. First you have to make the decision to have one. Then after that tough decision women have to jump through numerous hoops, like doctors’ visits and ultrasounds (sometimes multiple ultrasounds — including the invasive transvaginal ultrasound). Then a woman has to actually set up the appointment for the procedure itself.

We all know how slow and tedious making even the most routine doctor’s appointment can be. Also keep in mind that most women are now in the work force and may have to wait to take time off for all of this. By the time a woman gets all of this sorted out, the 20 weeks (or 18 if we use the old-fashioned, sane definition of conception) could be up. And that’s exactly what Arizona’s government wants.

Contact the author here: jennY@morningquickie.com