Major changes to the landscape of abortion law and service delivery have rapidly proliferated since the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs, in some cases overnight. Using legal epidemiology methods, the authors and a team of researchers created a legal dataset that identifies and tracks state laws impacting abortion access in the months immediately following the Dobbs ruling. This article explores the dataset's findings, detailing changes in abortion laws including abortion bans and related penalties, interstate shield laws, and data privacy protections, from June 1, 2022 through January 1, 2023. While several states moved quickly to restrict or ban abortion, others have strengthened protections and developed innovative laws aimed at shielding patients and providers from abortion criminalization. However, the ever shifting landscape and increased risk of criminalization have chilled accessibility and quality of reproductive health services, and gaps remain even in states that have enacted protective laws. Moving forward, researchers and policymakers must learn from the past and prioritize advancing racial and health equity. Despite the many harms that continue to result from Dobbs, this moment also presents an opportunity to rebuild a more inclusive and equitable vision of reproductive justice for all.
Publication Title:
Journal of Law and Health
Publication Date:
Monday, October 30, 2023