Abortion Ban

CH. 153 of 1846
MCL 750.14
Description
Any person who willfully administers to any pregnant woman any medicine, drug, substance, or employs any instrument or other means, with intent to procure an abortion, unless to preserve the life of the mother, would be deemed guilty of manslaughter. A version of this law had been continuously in existence in Michigan from 1846 to 2023. Roe v. Wade had rendered this section of code irrelevant. In the wake of Roe v. Wade, this law was interpreted to prohibit abortion only after the child is “viable” and then, not when the mother’s life or “health” is at risk. Because “health” was defined in Doe v. Bolton to include age, emotional and financial consideration, family situation, etc, this law was unable to be used to stop any abortion at any stage. The law was essentially blocked by the passage of Proposal 3 in 2022, and then repealed in 2023. Abortion in Michigan is legal throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy for any reason.