Tennessee
Abortion is legal in Tennessee, but the state has imposed a number of restrictions on access to the procedure. Tennessee requires a 48-hour waiting period before a woman can receive an abortion, and minors seeking an abortion must obtain parental consent or obtain permission from a judge. The state also requires that abortion providers give women seeking an abortion information about fetal development, abortion alternatives, and potential complications.
In addition, Tennessee has passed several laws designed to limit access to abortion services. For example, the state prohibits abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, except in cases where the woman's life is at risk or the fetus has a severe anomaly. Tennessee also requires abortion clinics to meet certain facility standards that are more stringent than those imposed on other outpatient medical facilities.
In recent years, Tennessee has passed several new restrictions on abortion. In 2020, the state passed a law banning abortions based on a fetal diagnosis of Down syndrome. The law is currently blocked by a federal court injunction. Tennessee is also one of several states that has passed a "trigger law," which would ban abortion if the Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that established the right to abortion nationwide.
Overall, access to abortion in Tennessee is limited by state law, and women seeking an abortion may face significant barriers to obtaining the care they need.
