A board-certified OBGYN is pushing back against Massachusetts’ new abortion law, arguing that third-trimester abortions are medically unnecessary and can put mothers at risk.
On Monday, Massachusetts became the 10th state to allow abortions throughout pregnancy, drawing criticism from pro-life advocates and some medical professionals.
"If a woman's life is in danger, if she's facing a pregnancy complication beyond 24 weeks, we simply deliver her. And in fact, delivery is much more expedient than a later-in-pregnancy abortion procedure," Dr. Christina Francis, OBGYN and CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs, told Fox News Digital.
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Francis explained she can perform an emergency C-section in under five minutes, while an abortion later in pregnancy can take multiple days, which she said raises risks for both mother and baby.
The law, signed by Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, gives physicians broader discretion in authorizing abortions later in pregnancy while shielding them from legal penalties. Healey said the changes are meant to prevent women from having to travel out of state for abortions later in pregnancy, which she said can complicate their care.
Francis criticized the law, citing concerns about the well-being of both mother and child. "There's nothing in this law that says that at 39 weeks and five days, a woman could not have an abortion. These procedures are risky for the mom. They lead to significant risk of complications," she said, adding that she believes scientific evidence shows fetuses can feel pain much earlier in pregnancy.
"The science is very clear, as early as 12 weeks of pregnancy, we know that babies feel pain, and we're talking about here dismemberment abortion procedures, where these babies are torn limb from limb, sometimes while they're alive, sometimes after they have had a heart attack induced by an injection directly into their heart," Francis said. The question of when fetal pain becomes possible remains disputed among medical groups.
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Pro-life advocates also dispute the argument that abortions later in pregnancy are performed only in rare medical emergencies. Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic director turned pro-life advocate, told Fox News Digital that she’s seen firsthand that isn’t true.
"We hear a lot of pro-choice advocates say, ‘You know, well, that just doesn't happen. It only happens in these very difficult certain circumstances.’ But I can tell you firsthand, as a former abortion clinic director, it's just not true," said Johnson, who now serves as CEO of And Then There Were None.
Johnson believes laws like Massachusetts’ are a reaction to conservative states that have imposed earlier limits on abortion, such as Texas, Florida and South Carolina.
"It feels almost like rebellion. There's a lot of states that have moved in a more conservative direction, passing heartbeat bills, passing really restrictive legislation. And so we see, then the pendulum swings toward the other side," Johnson said.
She added that while many pro-choice people support abortion rights, she believes most would reject third-trimester abortions.
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"A lot of pro-choice people will say, ‘OK, we understand abortion in the first trimester,' but this is out of step with the majority of pro-choice people. Most pro-choice people do not understand abortion at 36 weeks, an elective abortion at 36 weeks. But that is what this legislation allows," Johnson said.
Healey touted the bill as a way to aid women and families who are confronted with wrenching decisions about keeping pregnancies late in the process.
"I've heard heartbreaking stories from women and families who were preparing to welcome a healthy baby into their family, only to receive devastating news later in their pregnancy. Instead of being able to rely on the doctors they knew and trusted at home, they were forced to travel hundreds of miles and pay out of their pockets while navigating unimaginable grief," Healey said.
"That should never happen in Massachusetts," she continued. "This law continues our efforts to have the strongest abortion protections in the country because in Massachusetts, we believe healthcare decisions should be made between women and their doctors."
Fox News Digital reached out to Healey's office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.