The Upside of Abortion Disclosure Laws

Abstract

On both sides of the political spectrum, people have conceived of abortion disclosure laws as an obstacle to abortion. For this reason, abortion rights supporters have opposed them, and abortion opponents have supported them. Neither side, however, appears to have considered whether scientifically accurate disclosures could have independent, welfare-enhancing medical and informational value to women. This paper describes how certain disclosures might not only improve individual and community health, but also provide a positive and democratic avenue for abortion rights.