Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed into law Monday a bill allowing abortion until birth with the approval of a physician.
Previously, abortion in Massachusetts was permitted for any reason through the 24th week of pregnancy. Following that time, a woman could only get an abortion if a physician deemed it necessary to protect the life or physical or mental health of the mother, or in cases involving a fatal fetal diagnosis or severe fetal anomaly.
Under the new law, these restrictions were removed. Now, abortion can occur at any time during a pregnancy with the permission of a licensed physician relying “on their best medical judgement when caring for patients”.
