Whole Womanâs Health v. Hellerstedt
Quick Summary
In Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt (2016), the U.S. Supreme Court addressed Texas laws that imposed significant requirements on abortion providers. These laws mandated that doctors performing abortions must have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and that abortion clinics must meet the standards of ambulatory surgical centers. The Court found that these requirements placed a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking pre-viability abortions, thus constituting an "undue burden" on abortion access and violating the U.S. Constitution. This ruling was based on the "undue burden" standard previously established in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992). The Court's decision in Whole Woman's Health ultimately struck down these Texas provisions.12
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