The US Supreme Court’s potential overturning of Roe vs Wade, which grants the legal right to abortion, may likely help people realise how essential the healthcare service is to the wellbeing of pregnant people, Doctors for Choice Malta has said.

A leaked Supreme Court document, which was published by Politico, suggests that the court will overturn the landmark 1973 legal decision, opening up the door for abortion to be banned in roughly half of US states. Some states, however, said that they will enshrine abortion in their respective constitutions.

“If confirmed, a ruling overturning Roe vs Wade will likely give a free hand to US states to legalise or ban abortion,” Doctors for Choice told Lovin Malta.

“This means those pregnant people who need abortions in states where abortion will be banned will need to either travel to another state if they can afford it, or risk an illegal abortion and possible fines or prison.”

“Some may resort to self-harm, and others may end up giving birth in circumstances where both mother and child will suffer. Malta is the EU state with the worst abortion law, so we know very well what the effects on people’s health and wellbeing will be, and they are not nice.”

Still, Doctors for Choice remained optimistic that the potential ruling, which has already seen protests from pro-choice and pro-life groups, will help people realise that the service is essential.

“The silver lining to all this is that, after 50 years of legal abortion, people in America are likely to realise what they have lost and how essential abortion care is to the wellbeing of pregnant people,” it said.

“Hopefully, this will make them more likely to vote for pro-choice politicians in the future. The world will once again witness how banning safe abortion is not a good idea, and this is likely to put off other countries from doing the same.”

What do you think about the Supreme Court’s attempt?