Timeline of Major Cases on Abortion and Contraceptives
"There is a global trend toward the liberalization of abortion laws driven by women’s rights,public health, and human rights advocates. This trend reflects the recognition of women’s access to legal abortion services as a matter of women’s rights and self-determination and an understanding of the dire public health implications of criminalizing
abortion." -Finer and Fine 2013
1916: Margaret Sanger opens the first birth control clinic in the United States. Within the next year she was found guilty of “maintaining a public nuisance” and sentenced to jail for 30 days. After her release, she re-opened her clinic and continued to endure more arrests and prosecutions.
1965: The Supreme Court (Griswold v. Connecticut) established the right of married couples to use birth control as protected in the Constitution as a “right to privacy.” However, during this time, millions of unmarried women in 26 states were still denied birth control.
1972: The Supreme Court (Baird v. Eisenstadt) legalized birth control for all citizens of this country, regardless of marital status.
1973: Roe v. Wade made it possible for women to get safe, legal abortions from well-trained medical practitioners. This led to dramatic decreases in pregnancy-related injury and death.
1991: Rust v. Sullivan upholds the constitutionality of the 1988 "gag rule" which prohibits doctors and counselors at clinics which receive federal funding from providing their patients with information about and referrals for abortion.
1992: The Supreme Court's ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey established that states can restrict pre-viability abortions. Restrictions can be placed on first trimester abortions in ways that are not medically necessary, as long as the restrictions do not place an "undue burden" on women seeking abortion services.
Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers laws (TRAP laws) were enacted. They require abortion providers pay an annual fee to be licensed and require abortion providers (but no other comparable offices or clinics) to meet a wide range of regulations governing their physical plant, staffing, procedures, and protocol.
1999: California legislature enacted the Women's Contraceptive Equity Act which mandates that all group and individual health and disability insurance polices that cover prescription drugs also covers contraceptives as well.
2000: Stenberg v. Carhart rules that the Nebraska statute banning so-called "partial-birth abortion" is unconstitutional for two independent reasons: the statute lacks the necessary exception for preserving the health of the woman, and the definition of the targeted procedures is so broad as to prohibit abortions in the second trimester, thereby being an "undue burden" on women.
Some current political figures discuss their views on abortion and birth control while promoting their health care views. With the constant question of "who's right" it is, there will always be new laws and regulations that arise from these debates.
abortion." -Finer and Fine 2013
1916: Margaret Sanger opens the first birth control clinic in the United States. Within the next year she was found guilty of “maintaining a public nuisance” and sentenced to jail for 30 days. After her release, she re-opened her clinic and continued to endure more arrests and prosecutions.
1965: The Supreme Court (Griswold v. Connecticut) established the right of married couples to use birth control as protected in the Constitution as a “right to privacy.” However, during this time, millions of unmarried women in 26 states were still denied birth control.
1972: The Supreme Court (Baird v. Eisenstadt) legalized birth control for all citizens of this country, regardless of marital status.
1973: Roe v. Wade made it possible for women to get safe, legal abortions from well-trained medical practitioners. This led to dramatic decreases in pregnancy-related injury and death.
1991: Rust v. Sullivan upholds the constitutionality of the 1988 "gag rule" which prohibits doctors and counselors at clinics which receive federal funding from providing their patients with information about and referrals for abortion.
1992: The Supreme Court's ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey established that states can restrict pre-viability abortions. Restrictions can be placed on first trimester abortions in ways that are not medically necessary, as long as the restrictions do not place an "undue burden" on women seeking abortion services.
Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers laws (TRAP laws) were enacted. They require abortion providers pay an annual fee to be licensed and require abortion providers (but no other comparable offices or clinics) to meet a wide range of regulations governing their physical plant, staffing, procedures, and protocol.
1999: California legislature enacted the Women's Contraceptive Equity Act which mandates that all group and individual health and disability insurance polices that cover prescription drugs also covers contraceptives as well.
2000: Stenberg v. Carhart rules that the Nebraska statute banning so-called "partial-birth abortion" is unconstitutional for two independent reasons: the statute lacks the necessary exception for preserving the health of the woman, and the definition of the targeted procedures is so broad as to prohibit abortions in the second trimester, thereby being an "undue burden" on women.
Some current political figures discuss their views on abortion and birth control while promoting their health care views. With the constant question of "who's right" it is, there will always be new laws and regulations that arise from these debates.