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Doctors and abortion funds urge removal of arbitrary post‑24‑week limits, say patients still forced to travel
Summary
Specialists, hospital clinicians and abortion‑fund representatives told the committee that Massachusetts’ gestational cutoff for abortion care forces some patients to travel out of state for medically necessary later procedures; witnesses backed H.2370 / S.1563 to give clinicians discretion to provide care after 24 weeks based on professional
Clinicians, patients and abortion‑fund representatives urged the Joint Committee on Public Health to remove or clarify Massachusetts’ 24‑week limit on abortion care so that decisions after that point can be made by patients and their physicians rather than by a legal cutoff.
"When you are a young person who is trying to finish school and plan for the future, every one of these days matter," said Dr. Lou Ireland, chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, describing harms of judicial bypass delays. Several maternal‑fetal medicine specialists described cases they could not treat in state because of the law and the resulting referrals out of state.
Multiple patients told the committee they traveled hundreds or thousands of miles to receive later abortion care following devastating fetal diagnoses or life‑altering maternal complications. "My son had brain anomalies; I had to travel 2,000 miles and pay $10,000 out of pocket," said one witness who described seeking care in another state because options were unavailable at home.
Providers said later‑pregnancy abortions are medically appropriate in situations such as severe fetal anomalies, maternal health risks, or complex psychosocial circumstances, and that a legal framework that defers decision‑making to judges or arbitrary time limits increases emotional, logistical and financial burdens. Abortion‑fund representatives described rising out‑of‑state travel costs for residents of Massachusetts and said they had supported dozens of Massachusetts residents traveling for care after 24 weeks in recent years.
Opponents appeared in the hearing as well, urging the committee to preserve limits. The committee heard testimony and asked for written follow‑up; no committee vote occurred during the hearing.
