Abortion on the Supreme Court agenda: Planned Parenthood v. Casey and its possible consequences

Article Abstract:

The Supreme Court in Planned Parenthood v Casey adopted a middle ground between freedom of choice and protecting the fetus, positing an 'undue burden' standard for evaluating state limitations on a woman's right to choose. The 'undue burden' standard will be clarified as women test government limitations. Women will need to negotiate a maze of state regulations in order to fully use their constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy. Casey also limits the privacy of doctor-patient informed consent discussions and extends constitutionally acceptable government action.

Privacy, Right of, Right of privacy

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Abortion, toleration, and moral uncertainty

Article Abstract:

The US Supreme Court's opinion in Planned Parenthood v. Casey is better reasoned than Roe v. Wade because it addresses the effect of abortion regulations on the status of women and the status of the fetus. Though criticized because the Court overturned the trimester system established in Roe and ratified state restrictions, Casey recognizes that women's rights can not be subordinated to the rights of another group, fetuses, when the status of that group is morally and scientifically uncertain.

Equality before the law, Equal protection, Women

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Patents and the supply of therapeutic products

Article Abstract:

It may be easier to obtain RU 486 in Canada than in the US since section 39 of the Canadian Patent Act provides for compulsory licensing of medicines. The Canadian government may cancel the act's compulsory drug licensing provisions. If this happens before any applications for RU 486 are made, GATT negotiations for an intellectual property agreement excluding from patentability inventions necessary for the public health may provide another possibility.

Drugs, Intellectual property, Mifepristone

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