Do You Know Doe?

We Know Roe

Almost everyone has heard of the landmark abortion decision Roe v. Wade that was decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1973.

The lawyers of a woman with the fictitious name of Jane Roe (Jane Roe’s real name is Norma McCorvey) challenged Texas’ law prohibiting abortion and their case led to the U.S. Supreme Court which issued the infamous Roe v. Wade decision. This decision overturned the abortion laws in all 50 states and created a “right” for a woman to have an abortion.

Who is Doe?

Even though most everyone in America has heard of Roe v. Wade, few know that there is a case that was decided with Roe. On the same day that Roe v. Wade was decided, another case, known as Doe v. Bolton, challenged the abortion law in Georgia. These two cases are considered companion cases by the U.S. Supreme Court.

So unless you understand Doe v. Bolton, you cannot fully understand the radical nature of Roe v. Wade.

What did Doe do?

While Roe v. Wade made abortion legal in all 50 states, it allowed that abortions could be restricted by states during the last three months of pregnancy unless the life or health of the mother was at stake. But here’s where Doe comes in. In Doe the U.S. Supreme Court defined “health” in very broad terms and as including “all factors - physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman’s age - relevant to the well-being of the patient.”

Doe defines “health” but it does so in such a way that “health” with regards to abortion can be any reason a woman can think up and an abortionist will agree to. Roe ruled that a woman could have an abortion in the first 6 months for no reason and Doe ruled that a woman could have an abortion in the last 3 months for any reason.

What does Doe mean?

Doe means that abortion is legal on demand throughout all nine months of pregnancy.

Those in favor of abortion like to claim that there is no such thing as abortion on demand in the United States because Roe allows for restrictions on third-trimester abortions when a woman’s life or health is endangered. This claim is very misleading because it ignores the reality of Doe vs. Bolton. By defining “health” so broadly, Doe has allowed abortion to be available for any reason and at anytime during a pregnancy. As a result, general “health exceptions” in legislation mean no restrictions to abortion.

In June of 1983, the United States Senate Judiciary Committee issued a report showing the true outcome of the Roe and Doe decisions which was unrestricted abortion on demand:

“The Senate Judiciary Committee observes that no significant legal barrier of any kind whatsoever exists today in the United States for a woman to obtain an abortion during any stage of pregnancy.”

What can you do?

By knowing and understanding the U.S. Supreme Court’s Doe decision, you can better understand the results of Roe v. Wade. If you support life and would like to learn more about how the decisions of Doe and Roe affect the lives of unborn children in the United States, here are some ideas on how you can get involved:

1. Share the information that you have learned from this brochure with others. You will be surprised at how many people haven’t heard of Doe v. Bolton and don’t know what “health” really means with regards to abortion.

2. Learn more about the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions by reading the decisions and dissents. The text of both decisions can be found on-line at www.findlaw.com/casecode/supreme.html

3. Contact Right to Life of Michigan to find out how you can get involved.

Do You Know Doe?

We Know Roe

Who is Doe?

What did Doe do?

What does Doe mean?

What can you do?

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Do You Know Doe?
We Know Roe Almost everyone has heard of the landmark abortion decision Roe v. Wade that was decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1973. The lawyers of a woman with the fictitious name of Jane Roe (Jane Roe’s real name is Norma McCorvey) challenged Texas’ law prohibiting abortion and their case led to the U.S. Supreme Court which issued the infamous Roe v. Wade decision. This decision overturned the abortion laws in all 50 states and created a “right” for a woman to have an abortion. Who is Doe? Even though most everyone in America has heard of Roe v. Wade, few know that there is a case that was decided with Roe. On the same day that Roe v. Wade was decided, another case, known as Doe v. Bolton, challenged the abortion law in Georgia. These two cases are considered companion cases by the U.S. Supreme Court. So unless you understand Doe v. Bolton, you cannot fully understand the radical nature of Roe v. Wade. What did Doe do? While Roe v. Wade made abortion legal in all 50 states, it allowed that abortions could be restricted by states during the last three months of pregnancy unless the life or health of the mother was at stake. But here’s where Doe comes in. In Doe the U.S. Supreme Court defined “health” in very broad terms and as including “all factors - physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman’s age - relevant to the well-being of the patient.” Doe defines “health” but it does so in such a way that “health” with regards to abortion can be any reason a woman can think up and an abortionist will agree to. Roe ruled that a woman could have an abortion in the first 6 months for no reason and Doe ruled that a woman could have an abortion in the last 3 months for any reason. What does Doe mean? Doe means that abortion is legal on demand throughout all nine months of pregnancy. Those in favor of abortion like to claim that there is no such thing as abortion on demand in the United States because Roe allows for restrictions on third-trimester abortions when a woman’s life or health is endangered. This claim is very misleading because it ignores the reality of Doe vs. Bolton. By defining “health” so broadly, Doe has allowed abortion to be available for any reason and at anytime during a pregnancy. As a result, general “health exceptions” in legislation mean no restrictions to abortion. In June of 1983, the United States Senate Judiciary Committee issued a report showing the true outcome of the Roe and Doe decisions which was unrestricted abortion on demand: “The Senate Judiciary Committee observes that no significant legal barrier of any kind whatsoever exists today in the United States for a woman to obtain an abortion during any stage of pregnancy.”	What can you do? By knowing and understanding the U.S. Supreme Court’s Doe decision, you can better understand the results of Roe v. Wade. If you support life and would like to learn more about how the decisions of Doe and Roe affect the lives of unborn children in the United States, here are some ideas on how you can get involved: 1. Share the information that you have learned from this brochure with others. You will be surprised at how many people haven’t heard of Doe v. Bolton and don’t know what “health” really means with regards to abortion. 2. Learn more about the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions by reading the decisions and dissents. The text of both decisions can be found on-line at www.findlaw.com/casecode/supreme.html 3. Contact Right to Life of Michigan to find out how you can get involved.
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