Massachusetts late-term abortion bill shows 'leave it to the states' rule doesn't work, pro-life group says

A leading pro-life organization says a Massachusetts bill that would allow abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy demonstrates why the protection of unborn children cannot be left exclusively to individual states.

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America criticized H.5595 in a July 31 press release after the legislation reached the desk of Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, earlier that day.

The Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act, H.5595, would allow abortions after 24 weeks solely on a physician’s professional judgment and permit the procedures to be performed outside hospitals, according to a summary from the Massachusetts Legislature. SBLA Pro-Life America said the proposed bill would not set a later gestational limit. 

According to SBA Pro-Life America’s release, Massachusetts currently permits elective abortions through 24 weeks, with exceptions after that point reserved for what it described as “fetal anomalies” involving babies with disabilities and life-limiting diagnoses. 

SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said the measure illustrates the consequences of treating abortion solely as a state issue.

“These extreme laws that only 10% of Americans support are enabled by the ‘states-only’ philosophy on abortion,” she said in the release. “The GOP must abandon the failed ‘leave it to the states’ position and move the country toward a national protection for unborn children across this nation.”

The bill’s primary sponsor, state Sen. Robyn Kennedy, D-Worcester, framed the bill’s removal of restrictions on abortion as a matter of women’s “autonomy” in the release from the Massachusetts Senate.

“Massachusetts must continue closing gaps in care,” Kennedy said, “so that women have full autonomy over the care they need, when and where they need it.”

According to SBA Pro-Life America, the bill is now awaiting action from the governor.