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Abortion Care Advocacy 101
Later Abortion Care Advocacy
Inclusive Abortion Care Advocacy
Common Legislative Interference
Anti-Abortion Messaging
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

Historical events that have impacted access to abortion care

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

1973

1976

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

1982

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

1992

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

2000

2016

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

2022

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

2024

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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