Survey Finds That Most Americans Support Restrictions On Legalized Abortion
Eight in 10 Americans would restrict abortion to the first trimester, according to a new Marist poll commissioned by the Knights of Columbus. In other reproductive health developments, a new abortion battlefront takes shape over the custody of frozen embryos.
McClatchy:
Majority Of Americans Support Abortion Restrictions
A majority of Americans support restrictions on legalized abortions, including those who identify themselves as abortion rights supporters, according to a new Marist poll commissioned by the Knights of Columbus. The poll finds that 81 percent of Americans would restrict abortion to – at most – the first three months of pregnancy. The Marist survey also shows that 82 percent of women and 66 percent of self-identified abortion rights supporters favor limiting the procedure to the first trimester of pregnancy. (Douglas, 1/19)
The New York Times:
Anti-Abortion Groups Join Battles Over Frozen Embryos
Anti-abortion groups are seeking a foothold on a new battlefield: custody disputes over frozen embryos. ... As scientific advances have made frozen embryos common, they have brought new complications to divorces. Most courts have treated embryos as marital property, often favoring the party that plans not to use the embryos, emphasizing a right not to be forced to procreate. Some have applied contract law, decided which half of the couple more deserved the embryos, or required mutual consent. But anti-abortion groups argue that such cases should be decided according to the best interests of the embryos, the same legal standard used in child-custody disputes. (Lewin, 1/19)
In other news, the Zika virus is raising health concerns for pregnant women —
The New York Times:
C.D.C. Urges Zika Testing For Some Who Are Pregnant
Pregnant women who feel sick and have visited countries in which the Zika virus is spreading should see a doctor soon and be tested for infection even though the tests are imperfect, federal health officials said on Tuesday. That advice was at the core of interim Zika-related guidelines for pregnant women issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The authors are specialists in emerging diseases and reproductive health. (McNeil, 1/19)