this post was submitted on 11 Mar 2024
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And there it is. This is the main reason I'm effectively pro-choice, while technically being pro-life.
In case anyone cares, here's my specific policy preferences:
I'm okay with abortion being technically illegal, but the above would likely make it legal for all intents and purposes, and I'm okay with that.
The joke writes itself.
How so? Abortion is a hotly debated topic among libertarians. Many are in favor on the grounds the women should be in complete control of whatever happens in their body. Those against point to the rights of the unborn as something to be protected as well (in a similar sense as a mentally unwell person who cannot assert their own rights).
Both sides want privacy to be maintained, and that was the grounds for Roe v Wade. I'm arguing that we should have something like Roe v Wade on the books as law that makes abortion effectively legal, but have enough protection of the fetus that it's technically illegal if there's no medical reason for it to be performed.
So in short, here's my proposed policy:
That's a pretty loose policy which prioritizes the privacy of the mother at every turn and completely allows it during the most important period (when miscarriages are high and women are learning that they're pregnant).
You can't say a woman is free to seek an abortion if you've taken away their option for safe care, which making doctors liable will do. All your plan will do is drive them to back-alley abortionists or attempt abortion by themselves.
The option would exist in the first half or so of the pregnancy, which is when the vast majority of abortions and miscarriages are performed. So for 95%+ of women, it would be the same as full abortion legalization.
So the only time "back alley" abortions would exist is after the fist 20 weeks and if there's no medical necessity. That's a pretty small edge case.