Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference (MassURC)

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion care is no longer federally protected as a constitutional right, resulting in significant interstate variation in access. In states with restrictive abortion laws, legal ambiguity and the threat of criminal liability have created new pressures for both patients and health care providers. This study examines how legal uncertainty produces a chilling effect on medical decision-making and shapes the treatment of pregnant patients. Specifically, it asks how abortion restrictions alter providers’ clinical decisions and which populations bear the greatest consequences. Drawing on peer-reviewed scholarship and qualitative accounts of patients navigating restrictive environments, this research analyzes the relationship between legal risk, medical practice, and patient outcomes. It argues that legal uncertainty negatively affects maternal health and birth outcomes, with disproportionate consequences for women of color and individuals in rural communities.