WASHINGTON -- The 1986 Missouri abortion law includes a variety of provisions challeged as violating the constitutional rights of women to choose an abortion.
Provisions at issue in the case decided by the Supreme Court include:
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-The declaration that life begins at conception.
-That 'unborn children have protectable interests in life, health and well-being.'
-A requirement that a doctor, before performing an abortion on any woman the doctor has reason to believe is 20 or more weeks pregnant, perform tests to determine the viability of the fetus.
-A ban on the use of state money, employees or public facilities for abortions. State-aided facilities cannot perform abortions even if the woman are willing to pay for the services.
