Washington abortion laws are relatively liberal. In fact, due to the Washington Reproductive Privacy Act, the state is prohibited from denying or interfering with a woman's right to choose an abortion (prior to viability of the fetus or to protect the mother's health). The state has a Constitutional limit on later abortion, except to protect the health (physical or mental) of the woman.
Washington
Washington
Washington abortion laws are relatively liberal. In fact, due to the Washington Reproductive Privacy Act, the state is prohibited from denying or interfering with a woman's right to choose an abortion (prior to viability of the fetus or to protect the mother's health). The state has a Constitutional limit on later abortion, except to protect the health (physical or mental) of the woman.
In January 2017, Washington Representative Luanne VanWerven (R-42-01) introduced H 1775. This bill bans abortions after 20 weeks post-fertilization. The bill contains narrow health and life exceptions and exceptions in the case of a fetal anomaly diagnosis. It does not contain exceptions for mental health or for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. The bill also creates onerous reporting requirements for physicians that provide an abortion after 20 weeks post-fertilization in the case of a medical emergency or fetal anomaly. This bill carried over to Washington’s 2018 session and was reintroduced. The bill failed the state legislature adjournment deadline on March 8, 2018.