Criminal
01-23-2003, 06:47 PM
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/roevwade/index.html
Jan. 22, 2003 -- It's been 30 years since the Supreme Court ruled that the relationship between a woman and her doctor was a private affair, not subject to governmental interference. Written by Justice Harry A. Blackmun, the ruling declared that the guarantee of liberty in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution extends a right to privacy "broad enough to encompass a woman’s decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy."
The case came to be known as Roe versus Wade. The ruling meant that from then on, the decision whether to have an abortion would be a matter for a woman and her health provider to decide. The procedure was made legal in all states, though Blackmun wrote that "this right is not unqualified and must be considered against important state interests in regulation."
Over the decades, there have been various attempts to take advantage of Blackmun's exception in the effort to place restrictions on abortion. The debates that have ensued have polarized the American political atmosphere like no other issue. Polls show consistently that a majority of Americans are opposed to abortion itself, but they are evenly split on whether women should have the right to choose an abortion.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling, NPR News is producing a series of stories that examine the state of abortion rights in America. The anniversary comes at what many see as a crucial turning point in the debate.
In recent months, opponents of abortion rights have successfully built a new line of offense against the Supreme Court's decision, hoping ultimately that the Court will grant the fetus legal "personhood," giving it the same rights as children and adults. That ultimately could lead the court to overturn the rights guaranteed by Roe v. Wade.
Installments in the NPR series:
Sex Education or Abstinence Programs?
NPR health correspondent Richard Knox examines efforts by abstinence-only supporters to replace comprehensive sex education programs with programs that stress abstinence-until-marriage. This is occurring as the rate of abortions continues a years-long decline.
Those who support abortion rights credit the rapid growth of comprehensive sex education programs, which explain to children and adolescents how to protect themselves against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Those opposed to abortion rights tend to give more credit to recent efforts to replace comprehensive sex education with abstinence-until-marriage programs. These programs de-emphasize the mechanics of sexual activity and protection, promoting instead a lifestyle where teens find abstinence enjoyable and fulfilling.
Looking solely at existing scientific studies, it's not possible to single out one reason for the decline in abortion rates. Opponents of abortion rights say abstinence programs have lowered teen pregnancy rates. Supporters of comprehensive sex education say that the abstinence programs haven't been around long enough to have had that much of an impact on teen pregnancy or abortion rates. Supporters of sex education emphasize that while abstinence is a worthwhile goal, teaching children and adolescents about sex is the best way to prevent unwanted pregnancies, abortions and sexually transmitted diseases
Jan. 22, 2003 -- It's been 30 years since the Supreme Court ruled that the relationship between a woman and her doctor was a private affair, not subject to governmental interference. Written by Justice Harry A. Blackmun, the ruling declared that the guarantee of liberty in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution extends a right to privacy "broad enough to encompass a woman’s decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy."
The case came to be known as Roe versus Wade. The ruling meant that from then on, the decision whether to have an abortion would be a matter for a woman and her health provider to decide. The procedure was made legal in all states, though Blackmun wrote that "this right is not unqualified and must be considered against important state interests in regulation."
Over the decades, there have been various attempts to take advantage of Blackmun's exception in the effort to place restrictions on abortion. The debates that have ensued have polarized the American political atmosphere like no other issue. Polls show consistently that a majority of Americans are opposed to abortion itself, but they are evenly split on whether women should have the right to choose an abortion.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling, NPR News is producing a series of stories that examine the state of abortion rights in America. The anniversary comes at what many see as a crucial turning point in the debate.
In recent months, opponents of abortion rights have successfully built a new line of offense against the Supreme Court's decision, hoping ultimately that the Court will grant the fetus legal "personhood," giving it the same rights as children and adults. That ultimately could lead the court to overturn the rights guaranteed by Roe v. Wade.
Installments in the NPR series:
Sex Education or Abstinence Programs?
NPR health correspondent Richard Knox examines efforts by abstinence-only supporters to replace comprehensive sex education programs with programs that stress abstinence-until-marriage. This is occurring as the rate of abortions continues a years-long decline.
Those who support abortion rights credit the rapid growth of comprehensive sex education programs, which explain to children and adolescents how to protect themselves against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Those opposed to abortion rights tend to give more credit to recent efforts to replace comprehensive sex education with abstinence-until-marriage programs. These programs de-emphasize the mechanics of sexual activity and protection, promoting instead a lifestyle where teens find abstinence enjoyable and fulfilling.
Looking solely at existing scientific studies, it's not possible to single out one reason for the decline in abortion rates. Opponents of abortion rights say abstinence programs have lowered teen pregnancy rates. Supporters of comprehensive sex education say that the abstinence programs haven't been around long enough to have had that much of an impact on teen pregnancy or abortion rates. Supporters of sex education emphasize that while abstinence is a worthwhile goal, teaching children and adolescents about sex is the best way to prevent unwanted pregnancies, abortions and sexually transmitted diseases