University at Buffalo (UB)
Updated January 31, 2019 This content is archived.
The New York State Legislature is expected to vote on the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) on January 22. Vanessa M. Barnabei, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, said the law was needed to “decriminalize” abortion in the state. She explained that the current law still has language where an abortion provider could be charged criminally for the procedure. Additionally, she said that the RHA also contains important provisions for contraceptives and would establish a maternal death review process.