Peabody Health Board Calls For Federal Abortion Protections

PEABODY, MA — The Peabody Board of Health affirmed its commitment to providing access to all reproductive health care services in the city — including access to birth control and safe and legal abortion care — while calling on the federal government to pass legislation codifying those rights for women across the country.

Calling that access "an essential part of comprehensive health care for women," the Board of Health said in a statement: "The Peabody Board of Health is committed to protection and supporting comprehensive health care for all women and providing accurate information about women's rights in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The statement notes that under state law abortion is legal up to 24 weeks into a pregnancy and beyond 24 weeks in case of the patient's health or fatal fetal anomaly. Teens under 16 are required to obtain parental consent, though this rule for a young woman can be excused by a judge.

"The Peabody Board of Health calls on Congress to codify federal protections to ensure the continued ability of all to access reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion, throughout the country," the Board of Health said.

More information on the state's ROE Act protecting women's reproductive rights can be found here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)