Question

based on the film Trapped, Do you think abortion restrictions might vary according to region? For instance, the documentary largely explores abortion restrictions in rural areas in the South and Midwest. How might abortion restrictions look in other parts of the United States (cities and/or suburbs)? Consider restrictions in accessing abortions that may not be reflected in law.

Answer 1

Trapped is a documentary that focusses primarily on the war against TRAP laws (Targetted Regulation of Abortion Providers). It has been taken from the perspective of healthcare professionals and how it affects the patients. It focuses on the south and the abortion laws that govern the south.

Abortion restrictions in other parts of the US

There are states in the U.S that allow non-physician health professionals and certified nurses to do first trimester abortions through vacuum aspirations. They can also prescribe drugs for a medical abortion.

They are the following states:

1. California
2. Montana
3. New Hampshire
4. Oregon
5. Vermont

The following states allow qualified non-physicians to prescribe drugs for medical abortions.
Alaska

1. Connecticut
2. Illinois
3. Maryland
4. Massachusetts
5. New Jersey
6. New York
7. New Mexico
8. Washington

In all of the other states, only licensed professionals can perform abortions. FDA has approved Mifepristone to be prescribed by licensed health professionals in all 50 states.

Abortion restrictions not reflected by law

Other restrictions like

1. Religious groups/ Religion itself
2. Societal pressure (Fear of society)
3. Peer pressure (Fear of peer group judgments)
4. Pro-life activists
5. Anti-abortion activists

All of the above factors are also significant in the abortion decision. The amount of influence that these factors have over the individual, determines the access to abortions.