Massachusetts House Passes 119-33 Bill Expanding Abortions After 24 Weeks
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 22
Massachusetts House Passes 119-33 Bill Expanding Abortions After 24 Weeks
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 22
Summary
A 119-33 House vote approved a bill allowing abortions after 24 weeks whenever a doctor deems the procedure appropriate.
Current Massachusetts law permits later abortions only under specific exceptions, including threats to the pregnant woman's life or health and certain severe fetal diagnoses.
Christine Barber, the Democratic sponsor, said the existing exception list cannot cover every complex case and that decisions should rest with doctors and patients.
The Senate is expected to vote before the July 31 end of the session; if enacted, Massachusetts would rank among the states with the fewest late-pregnancy abortion restrictions.