The Abortion Patient Bill of Rights

You still have rights!

 

We've all heard the news it is illegal in Mississippi to have an abortion with a couple of exceptions - to save a life or for victims of rape. However, the specifics around those exceptions, medication abortion, travel, and finances associated with abortion have been left unclear to many.

 

Ultimately, Mississippians deserve to know that abortion care and access are still available. Mississippians are capable of taking care of themselves, their loved ones, and their families.

 

The Patient Bill of Rights (PBR) answers your questions about legal abortion care and clears up misinformation about abortion rights. As we all know, changing the law to ban abortions in the state does not change the fact that you or people you care about may still need access to abortion care-now or in the future. The PBR is your resource for reliable, and accurate information about abortion care.

 

If a healthcare provider is refusing to talk to you or any other patient about abortion care, the PBR will provide some answers to questions you may have.

These Are Your Abortion Rights:

  1. You have the right to go out of state to have an abortion. Find out how at ineedana.com. 

  2. You have the right to tell other people where they can go in other states to obtain a lawful abortion.

  3. You have the right to help, drive, or provide monetary or any other support to anyone going out of state to have an abortion that is lawful in that other state.

  4. You have the right to have an abortion in Mississippi if it is required to save the life of the pregnant person or if the pregnant person is a victim of rape and a formal charge of rape has been filed with an appropriate law enforcement official.  

  5. Abortion pills are safe and effective, but NOT legal in Mississippi unless prescribed by a doctor for the situation above. However, you have the right to know that abortion pills can end a pregnancy for up to 10 weeks. 

  6. You have the right to know that medical personnel can’t typically distinguish between a natural miscarriage and an abortion caused by taking the abortion pill.

  7. You have the right to tell people which states they can visit to obtain an at-home lawful abortion with the abortion pill. In some other states, abortion pills are legally prescribed via in-person appointments or telehealth, or people may safely and legally self-manage their own abortion.

  8. Every Mississippian can call the free Repro Legal Helpline for any further questions about abortion pills: 1-844-868-2812 or visit (https://www.ifwhenhow.org/repro-legal-helpline/)

  9. Mississippi’s abortion ban creates criminal penalties for causing an unlawful abortion and could be applied unfairly. If you or someone you know is charged with a crime related to ending or trying to end their pregnancy, you may be able to get legal help through the Mississippi Center for Justice at 601-709-0856.

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