A bill prohibiting most abortions after six weeks was signed by Florida’s Republican governor Ron DeSantis, opening the door for significant changes to the procedure’s accessibility throughout the state.

Many women don’t realise they are pregnant until six weeks, according to opponents.

The law won’t take effect until after a judge makes a decision about an ongoing legal challenge to the current 15-week restriction.

In a statement, the governor stated, “We are proud to support life and family in the state of Florida.

He asserted that the measure will “defend human dignity and turn Florida into a pro-family state.”

Since Roe v Wade, which granted women in the US the constitutional right to abortion, was abolished last year, the state has served as a safe haven for those seeking abortions in the country’s southeast.

Many women fly to Florida for the operation because the state’s current 15-week abortion limit is one of the most permissive in the southeast.

If the woman can present proof, such as a police record or a restraining order, the six-week prohibition on abortions can be waived in cases of rape or incest.

Just hours after the ban was enacted by Florida’s Republican-led House of Representatives on Thursday with 70 votes in favour and 40 votes against, Mr. DeSantis signed the legislation late Thursday night. On April 3, it had been approved by the state Senate.

Republican lawmaker Kiyan Michael stated during the discussion, “A woman’s right to choose, I’ve heard people talk about that,” according to CNN. Well, your freedom to choose starts even before you have sex.

The Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates claimed the ban’s exceptions for rape or incest would not allow “meaningful access to patients in need” in a statement shortly after Mr. DeSantis signed the law.

According to the group, the entire law would “close a crucial abortion access point for millions across the Southeast, Caribbean, and Central and South America.“

The outcome of a subsequent Florida Supreme Court decision will still determine the future of the new six-week abortion law.

The current 15-week restriction in Florida is being challenged by abortion clinics in front of the state’s highest court. The most recent statute that Mr. DeSantis signed states that the six-week ban will only take effect if Florida’s top court sustains the existing 15-week law.

The conservative Supreme Court of Florida is anticipated to agree with pro-life campaigners and declare the 15-week restriction to be constitutional.

Since a federal judge last week blocked the initial licencing of a commonly used abortion medicine, mifepristone, there has been a heated national debate in the US about abortion.

The Biden administration has stated that it will approach the Supreme Court to reinstate full access to the medicine after that suspension was later overturned by an appellate court.

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