Abortion has officially become illegal in Tennessee.  Tennessee is one of 13 states that had legislation with a ‘trigger law’ designed to automatically outlaw abortions once Roe v. Wade was overturned. 

Tennessee had already banned abortions once cardiac activity is detected, which is typically around six weeks of pregnancy.

However, all abortions have now become illegal, with the exception in cases related to preventing the death or serious injury of a pregnant woman. The law makes no exceptions for rape or incest.

Earlier this month, Mayor John Cooper along with Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi hosted an event where attorneys and physicians answered questions about the new ban.

“While our options to protect the right to choose in Nashville are limited by current law, we must do everything we can to continue providing access to health care and safe, affordable care for those who need it,” said Mayor Cooper.

According to Metropolitan Government Law Director Wallace Dietz: “A person in Tennessee right now cannot order or receive abortion pills from an out-of-state pharmacy and have those mailed to Tennessee. That’s a crime.”

Someone could travel out of state for abortion pills where it is legal, but they would have to stay in that state until they finish out the prescription.

According to Dr. Kim Looney with Meharry Medical College, it’s important for physicians to know the law.

“Outside of this law being ambiguous, in some sense, what it does for me and my medical colleagues is it takes from the place of being physicians to being lawyers.”