Complex and Controversial: An Overview of American Abortion Policy
In
Public Health Policy
By
Stephanie Wang
Few issues in political and social discourse are as polarizing as that of abortion. Abortion policy has been shaped by influential Supreme Court decisions like Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and most recently, Dobbs v. Jackson, each of which has presented unique viewpoints on the constitutionality of abortion in the United States. Abortion policy has a major influence on public health, especially maternal and neonatal health. Often intertwined with public health arguments are moral and philosophical arguments about abortion, which further contribute to its controversial nature. In this brief, we will examine the evolution of abortion policy in the United States and the debates surrounding it in the present day with a special emphasis on public health.