Abortion-Related Disclosures and How the Maryland General Assembly Can Institute a Novel and Innovative Pregnancy Disclosure

Mary L. Scott

Nearly half of pregnancies in the United States, more than two million pregnancies every year, are unintended. In 2010, fifty-eight percent, or more than 70,000, of total pregnancies in Maryland were unintended. When an unintended pregnancy occurs, the pregnant person may not understand their options regarding the pregnancy or know about the availability of various pregnancy-related resources. There are many stories of pregnant people who did not terminate or delayed terminating their pregnancy due to inaccurate information. Sharon ended up at a crisis pregnancy center after “search[ing] the internet for ‘free pregnancy test’ and ‘free ultrasound.’” Following the ultrasound, she was told her pregnancy was too far along to get an abortion; however, later at an abortion clinic she discovered she was within the legal timeframe to elect an abortion. Cherisse called a number on an advertisement that said, “Need abortion? Call us.” After attending two separate appointments, she was incorrectly informed that it was too late for an abortion because “the procedure would perforate her uterus, and she would never be able to have children” despite the fact that she was still in the first trimester. Cherisse reluctantly decided not to terminate the pregnancy since she wanted to be a mom someday.