Roe v. Wade is Overturned June 24, 2022!

A great victory for unborn children and those who have been fighting for their lives for nearly 50 years.

What does it mean and what is next?

Is abortion illegal now?  Abortion is not immediately illegal across the United States. The issue has been returned to the states. Now the citizens and their duly elected legislators can decide how best to care for women and their unborn children. In some states, abortion in any form will be outlawed, and sadly in some states, abortion will be even more accessible than before.

What happens in Tennessee?  A “trigger law” takes effect August 25, 2022, making abortion illegal except when a mother’s life is in danger. Twenty other states have similar laws that will soon protect unborn children from abortion.

Does the law make it illegal for a woman to get an abortion in another state?  No, Tennessee law cannot prohibit a woman from obtaining an abortion in another state. However, Tennessee women should be aware that those states will have few safety measures in place to protect them from unregulated abortion facilities and abortion providers.

Will women be arrested for seeking an abortion?  No, Tennessee law specifically states that a woman seeking or obtaining an abortion will not be charged or prosecuted. In this situation, the woman and her child are both considered victims of a predatory abortion industry that has preyed on women for nearly 50 years under Roe and will profit from her abortion. Only the person performing or assisting with the abortion can be prosecuted.

Is the abortion pill also illegal in Tennessee?  Yes, a chemical abortion, RU-486, is included in the methods of abortion that are illegal in Tennessee. 

Can the abortion pill be ordered by mail or through telemedicine? Tennessee law prohibits the dispensation of “the abortion pill” by anyone other than a physician while in the presence of the woman.  Therefore, the dispensation of RU-486 by “telemed” or through the mail is illegal in Tennessee.

What will keep a woman from ordering RU-486 from an out-of-state or out-of-the-country source? Women need to know the truth that if they decide to purchase RU-486 from anyone other than a medical provider, i.e., the internet or a foreign country, she does so at great risk to her own health as these sources could be unregulated and unsafe.

What does the law say about rape and incest?  These horrific situations have been exploited by the abortion industry as a way to justify the destruction of unborn children.  In truth, less than 1.5% of all abortions are for these circumstances. The victim of rape or incest deserves care, compassion and medical attention and also deserves assistance to bring her perpetrator to justice instead of being coerced or pressured into an abortion. Her trauma could be greatly compounded by the trauma of the taking of an innocent child’s life. All life should be protected regardless of how conception occurred.

Will doctors be prosecuted for treating miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies?  No! This is a fear tactic and grossly misrepresents the law. Elective abortions are illegal in the state of Tennessee. A miscarriage or fetal demise is the tragic ending of a life in the womb -- it is not an elective abortion.  How a doctor provides medical treatment for an ectopic pregnancy or the death of the child in the womb is not affected by this law. 

What will happen to girls and women who have an unplanned pregnancy?  Now that Roe has been overturned, Tennesseans will be able to decide how best to assist the women of our state.  The Volunteer State will step up to the challenge.  There are more than 300 pregnancy resource and help centers in our state, and these centers will continue to provide care for pregnant women and their children while Tennessee Right to Life will work to pass legislation to improve care for pregnant women and the accessibility of adoption. Tennessee loves LIFE, and that love is without limit. 

What will Tennessee Right to Life do now? As one of the few states that will no longer allow the destruction of unborn children, the abortion industry will undoubtedly target Tennessee. Tennessee Right to Life will continue to work to elect pro-life legislators that will keep our current laws in place and pass measures to protect women and their children from out-of-state marketing efforts.  We will continue to spread the truth about the humanity of the unborn child and the tragedy of abortion. It is our goal to not only make abortion illegal, but to make abortion unthinkable.