Under Roe v. Wade, during the second trimester, what are states allowed to do?

Under Roe v. Wade, during the second trimester, what are states allowed to do?

• A. States ban abortion in the second trimester.
• B. The Court did not address second-trimester regulations.
• C. States may regulate to protect the mother's health in the second trimester.
• D. States may regulate abortion throughout pregnancy without restrictions.

Answer: (C)

Under Roe v. Wade, the Court described a trimester framework for how states can regulate abortion as pregnancy progresses. In the second trimester, the state has a legitimate interest in protecting the pregnant woman’s health. Because of that, states may implement regulations that are reasonably related to safeguarding maternal health. These rules can address safety and medical standards, physician qualifications, and facilities, but they cannot ban abortion or impose restrictions unrelated to health. This balance is why regulating to protect the mother’s health in the second trimester is permitted.

Under Roe v. Wade, the Court described a trimester framework for how states can regulate abortion as pregnancy progresses. In the second trimester, the state has a legitimate interest in protecting the pregnant woman’s health. Because of that, states may implement regulations that are reasonably related to safeguarding maternal health. These rules can address safety and medical standards, physician qualifications, and facilities, but they cannot ban abortion or impose restrictions unrelated to health. This balance is why regulating to protect the mother’s health in the second trimester is permitted.