Abortion Ban

CH. 153 of 1846
MCL 750.14

Any person who willfully administers to any pregnant woman any medicine, drug, substance, or employs any instrument or other means, with intent to procure an abortion, unless to preserve the life of the mother, would be deemed guilty of manslaughter. A version of this law has been continuously in existence in Michigan since 1846.

Roe v. Wade has rendered this section of code irrelevant. In the wake of Roe v. Wade, this law has been interpreted to prohibit abortion only after the child is “viable” and then, not when the mother’s life or “health” is at risk. Because “health” was defined in Doe v. Bolton to include age, emotional and financial consideration, family situation, etc, this law is unable to be used to stop any abortion at any stage. Abortion is legal throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy for any reason a woman and her doctor agree.

Abortion Legalization Proposal of 1972