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Mandatory Waiting Periods for Abortions
Mandatory waiting periods require women seeking abortions to wait for a period of time before the procedure may be performed. Generally, a woman must come to the abortion clinic for an initial consultation and is then must wait 24 hours later to receive the procedure, rather than have it done right away. Several states have enacted laws requiring a 24 or 48- hour waiting period. The result of mandatory waiting periods is that women incur more expenses, particularly when they are forced to travel long distances to reach a clinic. They not only have to pay the expenses of costly long-distance trips but also hotel stays and food bills. Women are endangered by the mandatory wait because they have increased exposure to anti-abortion protestors who harass women going in for procedures. Additionally, the potential risk for complications increases because often women have to wait longer than 24 hours until they can receive the procedure. As the gestational age of the fetus increases, so do the health risks for women.