Pro-choice and anti-abortion advocates weigh in on leaked Supreme Court opinion

Dr. Meera Shah, chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, said if the landmark decision is overturned, she expects to see an influx of women traveling to New York from states that restrict or ban abortions.

Nadia Galindo

May 3, 2022, 9:21 PM

Updated 949 days ago

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Advocates on both sides of the abortion issue are weighing in on the leaked Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade.
Dr. Meera Shah, chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, said if the landmark decision is overturned, she expects to see an influx of women traveling to New York from states that restrict or ban abortions.
"We have actually already seen that happening because of SB 8 in Texas that has essentially made abortion inaccessible," Dr. Shah said.
 LIVE BLOG: Roe v. Wade
She said the news of the leaked document is also causing confusion among patients scheduled for abortions.
"I want to encourage patients to still show up to appointments providers can still provide compassionate abortion care that hasn't changed," she said.
She is worried overturning Roe v. Wade will hurt woman who are low-income.
"Getting on a plane means that you are taking time off from work, that you are paying for a plane ticket and those are things that most people aren't able to do," Dr. Shah said.
Some Hudson Valley residents are celebrating the news of the draft majority opinion document.
"That’s tremendous," said Richard Bruno, Rockland Right to Life.
Bruno credits former President Donald Trump for adding three conservative justices to the bench which he believes led to this draft majority opinion.
The Piermont resident has been advocating for an end to legal abortions long before the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.         
"What are we talking about, you are going to kill a baby, pain free?" he said. "Not pain free. How can anybody be for that?"
The Supreme Court is expected to deliver an official decision in June. It wouldn't change access to abortions in New York, which has codified abortion rights.
It is expected for abortions to be banned or severely restricted in 26 states across the country.