Early Options: A Note on Legal and Regulatory Issues

Early Options - A Provider's Guide to Medical Abortion

Laws and regulations governing abortion and abortion service delivery differ widely from state to state, and are subject to change. Abortion laws written before the advent of medical abortion may seem, ostensibly, to be illogical or even irrelevant as applied to this new treatment. However, in most states, many of the laws governing abortion provision are defined so broadly that they may, in fact, apply to medical abortion.

This module will present some of the general legal and regulatory issues with which providers and administrators should be familiar, but, because of the nuances of legal interpretation and the significant variation in laws among states, it is important to consult appropriate legal counsel to ensure compliance with the current regulations that pertain in the state or states in which you practice.

For a more thorough review of the laws that may affect the provision of medical abortion, see Borgmann C, Jones BS, Legal issues in the provision of medical abortion, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2000, volume 183, pages S84 to S94. The Center for Reproductive Rights and the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project are excellent resources on this subject.

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References for this module