This is interesting in that the original Roe v. Wade implied that the US system ought to be like that outlined here by Spiffor as now prevailing in Europe. Because of later court decisions, abortion in the US has gone way beyond Roe v. Wade and the European laws.
Ned, have you even read Roe? Due to the trimester framework, the second trimester was also basically off limits to abortion bans. The state could only impose small restrictions, but nothing close to a ban in that period. It was only in the 3rd trimester that the state had a compelling interest in fetus life. Later decisions have done little to affect that. In fact, one can definetly argue that Roe has been curtailed by cases like Planned Parenthood v. Casey (which allows small state restrictions from the point of conception).
Late term abortion laws have been struck down because they do not have a provision allowing abortion to protect the health of the mother AND what they ban is very vague and the procedure (D&X) also is done before viability. BOTH in contrast to Roe.
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