This type of abortion is usually performed in the second or third trimester. Intact dilation and extraction abortion is the procedure where the cervix is dilated and the fetus’ skull is collapsed in order to pass the rest of the fetus through the birth canal. This type of procedure was performed during the twenty-first week or more of pregnancy.
The right to abortion access is guaranteed by the ruling of the court in the Roe v. Wade case; however, states have the power to create laws that “...[protect] the health of the pregnant woman and the potentiality of human life.” During the first trimester of pregnancy, the states cannot regulate abortion access for women because the decision to have an abortion must be made by the pregnant woman and her physician. During the second trimester of pregnancy, the state can regulate abortions to the extent that the regulations are created to protect the health of the mother. On the other hand, during third trimester pregnancy, the state has the right to regulate or ban abortions in order to protect the life of the fetus. Due to these rights of the states, many states have laws on who can perform the