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Abortion Care Advocacy 101
Later Abortion Care Advocacy
Abortion Care and Intersectionality
Countering Misinformation
Common Legislative Interference
Protect, Defend, & Expand

Abortion Care Advocacy 101

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Anti-abortion activists have been chipping away at abortion access since the Supreme Court issued its decision for Roe v. Wade in 1973. They have crafted and successfully lobbied for legislation that targets patient care by imposing burdens like unnecessary ultrasounds; targets providers by requiring redundant reporting; and targets the service itself, by banning various abortion care methods and setting gestational limits.

TLDR: What to know about access to abortion care in the United States

  • The Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade established the legal right to abortion care, and creating the trimester framework in the process

  • The Hyde Amendment was first included in annual appropriations legislation, blocking federal Medicaid from funding abortion care

  • FDA first approved misoprostol to treat peptic ulcers. It is believed to have been first used for abortion care in Brazil in the 1980s

  • In Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the Supreme Court reaffirmed Roe, but replaced the trimester framework with the viability framework that we know today. Casey also established the “undue burden” standard for legislation interfering with abortion care

  • FDA first approved mifepristone for use for abortion care in the 2-medication regimen with misoprostol. The approval included tight restrictions on the medication, including limiting dispensing to physicians registered with the drug distributor

  • The Supreme Court decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt struck down a number of restrictions in Texas, citing an undue burden

  • In June Medical Services LLC v. Russo, the Supreme Court struck down a law in Louisiana that required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. This was another win at dismantling TRAP laws across the country

  • The decision in Dobbs v. Jackson overturned Roe and federal protections for abortion care, leaving states to take matters into their own hands

  • In FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, the Supreme Court ruled that the plaintiffs did not have standing to bring the case forward and dismissed the case

  • In Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, the Supreme Court upheld a South Carolina policy barring Medicaid patients from accessing services from clinics that also provide abortion care

  • FDA first approved mifepristone for use for abortion care in the 2-medication regimen with misoprostol. The approval included tight restrictions on the medication, including limiting dispensing to physicians registered with the drug distributor

  • The Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade established the legal right to abortion care, and creating the trimester framework in the process

  • FDA first approved misoprostol to treat peptic ulcers. It is believed to have been first used for abortion care in Brazil in the 1980s

Historical events that have impacted access to abortion care

  • In Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the Supreme Court reaffirmed Roe, but replaced the trimester framework with the viability framework that we know today. Casey also established the “undue burden” standard for legislation interfering with abortion care

  • The decision in Dobbs v. Jackson overturned Roe and federal protections for abortion care, leaving states to take matters into their own hands

  • The Supreme Court decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt struck down a number of restrictions in Texas, citing an undue burden. This was a crucial win in the fight against TRAP laws

  • The Hyde Amendment was first included in annual appropriations legislation, blocking federal Medicaid from funding abortion care

  • In June Medical Services LLC v. Russo, the Supreme Court struck down a law in Louisiana that required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. This was another win at dismantling TRAP laws across the country

How does your state measure up?

Advocating as a Clinician

In the face of bans, restrictions, and other anti-abortion efforts to dismantle access to care, abortion care advocates are working tirelessly to ensure that patients can still get the care they need.

As clinicians, you have the expertise and the responsibility to take part in this advocacy.

First, learn the facts…

…then develop the skills.

A great place to start your advocacy journey is with

Storytelling

Storytelling is a powerful tool.

While data and facts are critical - especially in the face of widespread misinformation - stories help to ground them in reality. It is easy for anti-abortion activists to dismiss facts - we see them do this all the time. It is harder for them to ignore the very real people who are impacted by restrictions on abortion care.

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