The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Texas’ requirements that abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and for clinics to meet the standards of an outpatient surgical center aren’t medically necessary. Alison Dreith with pro-choice group NARAL says the court decision makes this election year even more important.

allison dreith

Alison Dreith, photo courtesy of NARAL

“Because this decision doesn’t directly apply to Missouri, we have to reaffirm our fight to protect and expand reproductive freedom,” says Dreith.

She says the court decision is encouraging.

“We as reproductive rights activists and advocates will need to review the laws and the impact of laws to see if there’s room to challenge based on the court’s ruling,” says Dreith.

Opponents have condemned the decision, saying the court ruled based on politics. They are trying to determine if there are any legal avenues to allow Missouri’s abortion clinic laws to stand.

Dreith says Monday’s ruling was personal and emotional.

“Before the decision came down, I went public with my own abortion story, which was only four weeks ago. Because of Missouri’s unjust laws, I had that abortion in Illinois,” said Dreith.

Missouri’s 72-hour required wait before women can have an abortion contributed to her decision to have an abortion in Illinois. Dreith says having an abortion in Illinois shows that some Missouri women would rather deal with less abortion restrictions. During a follow-up, Dreith learned that all six women in the Illinois clinic’s waiting room were from Missouri.