SARASOTA, Fla. — While regulators are focused on conditions that cannot happen after six weeks of pregnancy, pregnant women in different stages and with various conditions are left to explore their options.
Reproductive health care providers say even before the 6-week abortion ban went into effect in Florida, its impact had already long kicked in. Up until the ban went into effect on May 1, abortions were allowed up to 15 weeks in the state.
However, with the new rules, women have to seek care outside the state, and Planned Parenthood has already set in motion plans to assist them.
"It's already happening and patients are already having to get out of the state," Dr. Robyn Schickler, OBGYN at Planned Parenthood, said.
In what is the latest fallout of the ban, doctors at Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida said they are looking for placements for patients at clinics outside the state.
"We saw as many patients as possible, and there were still some patients over the past few days that we had to navigate out because we simply could not get them in," Dr. Schickler said.
"Our care will be helping patients to migrate out of the state of Florida so that they can find care in states that are more friendly to themselves," Barbara Zdravecky the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood, said.
Zdravecky said those states include North Carolina, more than 650 miles away, where abortion is banned from 12 weeks, and requires in-person counseling first and then another within 72 hours for the abortion.
The other option is for them to go around 900 miles to Virginia, where abortion is banned once a pregnancy enters the third trimester and requires parental consent and notice for minors.
"We have a lot of resources available for those patients and we know that making sure their gestational age is authenticated will help them determine what state they have to go to," Zdravecky said.
Those who are against abortion access are expectedly pleased with the move in Florida.
"We cannot have legalized abortion and I believe that the six-week ban is the way to start," Jodie Ling, who identified herself as a citizen against abortion, said.
"Every child has dignity and respect and deserves life, not an abortion," Kathy, who would not disclose her last name and described herself as a sidewalk advocate for life, said.
The pro-life supporters said there were other resources available to provide women with alternatives to abortion including the Community Pregnancy Center on 7th Street right next to Planned Parenthood.
"They can get free pregnancy tests, free ultrasounds. They have free unlimited testing for people that they can sign up for and they can get free baby clothes and baby food," Kathy said.
"You cannot have an abortion on demand just because you don't want a child," Ling said.
In 2023, there were around 84,000 abortions performed in Florida, and around 14,000 so far this year.
Abortion rights advocates say they hope the issue is settled once and for all at the ballot box.
"The only way to combat these increased barriers is to protect abortion access and to put the power in the hands of the people and vote yes on Amendment 4," Dawnyelle Singleton, a community advocate with Planned Parenthood, said.
In addition, telehealth abortion is also illegal in Florida.