Idaho on Wednesday became the second state in the United States to pass a near-total ban on abortion, similar to Texas’s, allowing this intervention to take place at a maximum of six weeks’ gestation.
Idaho Governor Brad Little, Republican, signed legislation that had already been passed by both houses of the state Congress, where Republicans hold a majority. The legislation is expected to take effect within 30 days, although it will likely be challenged in court.
Like Texas law, the Idaho measure leaves abortion in the hands of private professionals rather than state officials.
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Specifically, Idaho law allows the father, grandparents, siblings and uncles of the fetus to sue those who helped the pregnant woman to abort within four years of the procedure and establishes a minimum compensation of $20,000 for damages.
Meanwhile, legislation in Texas and another being debated in Oklahoma allow anyone to file lawsuits without having to be related to the fetus.
That system — which removes legal responsibility from state officials — has so far allowed the Texas law to remain in effect, despite contradicting the 1973 court ruling that legalized abortion in the United States, known as Roe v. Wade.
Everything indicates that the conservative majority of the US Supreme Court will restrict the right to abortion in the country in June or July, when it will decide on another Mississippi law that would limit abortion to 15 weeks and that therefore also contradicts the precedent of 1973. If that happens, 26 states are expected to restrict abortion.
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