{"schema":"abhortion.org/legislation.full/v1","id":"legality-us-dc","type":"legislation","level":"district","jurisdiction":"District of Columbia","as_of_date":"2026-07-12","research_completed_date":"2026-07-12","headline":"Legal at all stages; statutorily protected","summary":"Abortion is legal at all stages of pregnancy in the District of Columbia, codified by statute with no gestational limit, though Congress retains the power to override DC law.","machine_readable_summary":{"legal_classification":"protected_by_statute","gestational_limit_weeks":null,"limit_measured_from":null,"abortion_currently_available":"yes","ban_or_limit_enjoined":false,"mother_expressly_exempt":true,"mother_prosecutable_in_practice":false,"self_managed_abortion_criminalized":false,"abortion_charged_as_homicide":false,"fetal_homicide_law":false,"fetal_wrongful_death_action":true,"personhood_language_in_law":false,"personhood_contradiction":true,"medication_abortion_distinct_status":false,"mailing_pills_banned":false,"method_bans":[],"telehealth_prescribing_allowed":true,"physician_only_law":false,"provider_max_penalty":null,"helpers_criminally_exposed":false,"travel_assistance_criminalized":false,"civil_bounty_law":false,"shield_state":true,"waiting_period_hours":null,"state_scripted_counseling":false,"ultrasound_required":"none","in_person_visits_required":0,"parental_involvement":"none","judicial_bypass_available":"not_applicable","spousal_consent_or_notice_on_books":false,"medicaid_coverage":"hyde_only","private_insurance_restricted":false,"state_funding_posture":"neutral","rape_incest_exception":"not_applicable","exceptions_present":[],"major_pending_change":true},"links":{"html":"https://www.abhortion.org/legislation/dc.html","markdown":"https://www.abhortion.org/legislation/dc.md","summary_json":"https://www.abhortion.org/legislation/dc.json","full_json":"https://www.abhortion.org/legislation/dc-full.json","verbose_json":"https://www.abhortion.org/legislation/dc-verbose.json"},"overview":{"title":"Legal at all stages; statutorily protected","summary":"Abortion is legal at all stages of pregnancy in the District of Columbia, codified by statute with no gestational limit, though Congress retains the power to override DC law.","description":"Abortion is legal at every stage of pregnancy in Washington, D.C. There is no ban, no gestational cutoff, no waiting period, and no parental permission requirement for minors. D.C. law expressly recognizes the right to abortion and prohibits the government from interfering with that right. However, because D.C. is not a state, Congress has constitutional authority over its laws and could pass legislation to restrict or ban abortion here — a risk that does not exist for any state. Congress has already restricted D.C. from using its own locally raised tax dollars to cover abortion through its Medicaid program.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library (Council of the District of Columbia)","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"},{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/23-90"}]},"sections":{"definitions":{"title":"'Abortion' not statutorily defined; SMA defined","summary":"DC Code does not contain a standalone definition of 'abortion,' but defines 'self-managed abortion product' as FDA-approved medication for pregnancy termination made available outside the licensed operation of a health care provider.","description":"D.C. law does not have a single statutory definition of 'abortion.' Instead, it protects the right to decide whether to 'carry a pregnancy to term, to give birth, or to have an abortion' without defining the term formally. The law does define 'self-managed abortion product' — medication approved by the FDA for terminating a pregnancy when obtained outside formal health-care channels. Because there is no criminal abortion statute, the absence of a definition does not create ambiguity about what conduct is prohibited. The law does not carve out or exclude miscarriage management, ectopic-pregnancy treatment, or IVF from its protections, and nothing in D.C. law would treat those as criminal acts.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/2-1401.02"},{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"}]},"current_status":{"title":"No ban; right affirmatively codified","summary":"Abortion is legal at all stages of pregnancy; D.C. Code § 7-2086.01 affirmatively codifies the right, and no criminal prohibition exists.","description":"Abortion is legal in Washington, D.C. at any point in pregnancy. In 2020, the D.C. Council passed a law that explicitly recognizes every pregnant person's right to decide whether to have an abortion. The pre-Roe criminal abortion ban was repealed in 2004. There is no gestational age limit, no mandatory waiting period, and no other restriction on when an abortion may be performed. Abortion is treated as health care, and D.C. law prohibits the government from interfering with reproductive health decisions.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"},{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/titles/22/chapters/1"}]},"enforcement_status":{"title":"Fully in effect; no injunctions","summary":"All D.C. abortion-protective statutes are fully in effect with no judicial injunctions, though federal litigation over mifepristone and congressional action could alter the landscape.","description":"All of D.C.'s laws protecting abortion access are currently in full effect. No court has blocked or limited them. The District's Attorney General has confirmed that the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision did not change D.C. law. The only uncertainty comes from outside D.C.: Congress could pass a law overriding D.C.'s protections, and federal court cases about the abortion pill mifepristone could affect nationwide access, including in D.C.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Office of the Attorney General","href":"https://oag.dc.gov/release/consumer-alert-questions-and-answers-abortion-care"},{"name":"SCOTUSblog","href":"https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/05/court-allows-for-access-to-abortion-pill-by-mail-for-now"}]},"exceptions":{"life":{"title":"Not applicable; no ban to except from","type":"life","summary":"Because D.C. has no abortion ban or gestational limit, there is no need for a 'life exception' — abortion is legal at all stages and in all circumstances.","description":"D.C. does not restrict abortion at any stage of pregnancy, so there is no need for an exception to protect the pregnant person's life. Abortion is legal whenever a patient and their doctor determine it is medically appropriate, including when pregnancy endangers the patient's life. This is a full permission, not an exception to a prohibition.","verification":"not_applicable","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"}]},"physical_health":{"title":"Not applicable","type":"physical_health","summary":"No abortion restriction exists, so no physical health exception is needed; abortion is lawful whenever medically indicated in the judgment of the patient and provider.","description":"Because D.C. law does not restrict abortion at any stage, there is no need for a 'physical health exception.' Abortion is available whenever a physician and patient determine it is medically appropriate, including for physical health reasons at any point in pregnancy.","verification":"not_applicable","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"}]},"mental_health":{"title":"Not applicable","type":"mental_health","summary":"No abortion restriction exists, so no mental health exception is needed.","description":"D.C. law does not limit abortion based on mental health justification. Abortion is legal at all stages, and the patient's reasons — including mental health — are not subject to legal gatekeeping.","verification":"not_applicable","confidence":"high"},"rape":{"title":"Not applicable","type":"rape","summary":"No abortion restriction exists, so no rape exception is needed.","description":"D.C. law does not condition abortion on whether a pregnancy resulted from rape. Abortion is legal in all circumstances.","verification":"not_applicable","confidence":"high"},"incest":{"title":"Not applicable","type":"incest","summary":"No abortion restriction exists, so no incest exception is needed.","description":"D.C. law does not condition abortion on whether a pregnancy resulted from incest. Abortion is legal in all circumstances.","verification":"not_applicable","confidence":"high"},"fatal_fetal_anomaly":{"title":"Not applicable","type":"fatal_fetal_anomaly","summary":"No abortion restriction exists, so no fetal anomaly exception is needed.","description":"D.C. does not restrict abortion, so there is no need for an exception for fatal fetal anomalies. Abortion is available when medically appropriate at any stage for any reason.","verification":"not_applicable","confidence":"high"},"ectopic_miscarriage_carveout":{"title":"Not applicable","type":"ectopic_miscarriage_carveout","summary":"No abortion restriction exists; treatment for ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage management are lawful as general medical care.","description":"Because D.C. has no abortion ban, there is no need for a legal carve-out for ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage treatment. These medical procedures are lawful and are not treated as 'abortions' under any criminal statute. D.C. law also explicitly protects from penalty any act or omission during pregnancy based on its potential or actual impact on the individual's health.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"}]}},"methods":{"procedural_surgical":{"title":"Legal at all stages","summary":"Procedural (surgical) abortion is legal at all stages of pregnancy in D.C., with no method-specific bans.","description":"Procedural abortion — including dilation and evacuation (D&E) and dilation and extraction (D&X, sometimes called 'partial-birth' abortion) — is legal in D.C. at any point in pregnancy. D.C. has no ban targeting any specific surgical method. The federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act (18 U.S.C. § 1531) applies nationwide, but it does not prohibit D&E and has been interpreted narrowly by the Supreme Court in Gonzales v. Carhart, 550 U.S. 124 (2007) to apply only to intact D&X when no exception for the patient's health is required. Because D.C. has no independent state-law method bans, the federal act is the only limitation.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"},{"name":"U.S. Supreme Court","href":"https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/550/124/"}]},"medication":{"title":"Legal; telehealth and mail permitted","summary":"Medication abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol is legal in D.C., available via telehealth and by mail under current FDA rules preserved by Supreme Court stay.","description":"Medication abortion — using the two-pill regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol — is legal in D.C. A person can get a prescription through a telehealth appointment, pick up the medication at a pharmacy, or have it mailed to them. The FDA has approved this for use up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, though it may be prescribed later for evidence-based use. D.C. law explicitly protects those who provide, dispense, or transfer self-managed abortion products. As of mid-2026, the Supreme Court has stayed a lower court order that would have banned mailing mifepristone, so mail access continues while litigation proceeds.","verification":"verified","confidence":"medium","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"},{"name":"Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC","href":"https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-metropolitan-washington-dc/patient-resources/abortion-dc/medication-abortion-home-telehealth"}]},"self_managed":{"title":"Expressly protected from penalty","summary":"D.C. law expressly prohibits penalizing anyone for self-managing their own abortion or for assisting someone who does, making self-managed abortion legally protected.","description":"In D.C., a person who ends their own pregnancy outside the formal health-care system — for example, by obtaining abortion pills by mail and taking them at home — is expressly protected from any penalty. The law says the District government 'shall not penalize a person for seeking, inducing, or attempting to induce the person's own abortion.' This means you cannot be prosecuted, fined, or otherwise punished for self-managing an abortion. This protection extends to anyone who assists you, and to anyone who provides or transfers self-managed abortion products. The only exceptions are if the product is given without voluntary consent, or if it involves adulterated or counterfeit medication.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"}]}},"actors":{"who_may_perform":{"title":"Licensed health care professionals","summary":"D.C. law protects abortion provision by any 'health care professional or health care provider acting within the scope of their license,' without a physician-only restriction.","description":"In D.C., licensed health care professionals — not only physicians — can provide abortion care if it falls within the scope of their license. This includes advanced practice clinicians such as nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and physician assistants. D.C. does not have a 'physician-only' law limiting who may perform abortions. For medication abortion, any licensed prescriber within their scope of practice can prescribe. D.C. law also prohibits discrimination against health care professionals based on their participation in abortion care, including in employment, admitting privileges, and licensure.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"},{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/23-90"}]},"criminal_civil_exposure":{"pregnant_woman":{"title":"Expressly exempt from all penalty","summary":"D.C. law expressly provides that the District shall not penalize a person for seeking, inducing, or attempting to induce their own abortion.","description":"A pregnant person in D.C. cannot be prosecuted, fined, or otherwise penalized for ending their own pregnancy or attempting to do so. The law says this explicitly. This protection covers self-managed abortion by any method, including medication obtained by mail. There is no criminal abortion statute under which a pregnant person could be charged. D.C. law also protects against penalty for any act or omission during pregnancy based on its impact on the pregnancy or the person's health, meaning that a person cannot be prosecuted for pregnancy outcomes.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"}]},"physician":{"title":"No criminal exposure; protected","summary":"Physicians face no criminal liability for providing abortion in D.C.; the former criminal statute was repealed, and current law affirmatively protects their participation.","description":"Physicians who provide abortion care in D.C. face no criminal penalties. The old criminal abortion law was repealed in 2004. Current D.C. law protects health care professionals' decisions to participate in abortion care and prohibits employment discrimination against them. A physician could face professional discipline for conduct falling below the standard of care, as with any medical procedure, but not for the act of providing abortion itself. The shield law also protects physicians from adverse licensing actions based on out-of-state discipline for providing abortion care that is lawful in D.C.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/3-1205.14"},{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/2-1461.02"}]},"prescriber_pharmacist":{"title":"Protected; no criminal exposure","summary":"Non-physician prescribers and pharmacists who prescribe or dispense abortion medication within their scope of practice face no criminal liability under D.C. law.","description":"Nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, physician assistants, and pharmacists who prescribe or dispense abortion medication in D.C. face no criminal liability. D.C. law protects health care professionals acting within their scope of license. Pharmacists filling prescriptions for mifepristone and misoprostol — including prescriptions from out-of-state providers — are not subject to any D.C. abortion-specific restriction. The shield law also prohibits D.C. from cooperating with out-of-state investigations of these activities.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/2-1461.01"}]},"nurses_and_staff":{"title":"Protected; no criminal exposure","summary":"Clinical staff assisting in abortion care face no criminal liability; D.C. law protects those who assist, and the shield law blocks out-of-state investigations.","description":"Nurses, medical assistants, and other clinical staff who assist in providing abortion care in D.C. face no criminal exposure. D.C. law protects anyone who assists someone seeking an abortion, and the shield law prevents D.C. agencies from cooperating with out-of-state investigations targeting these activities. Staff are also protected from employment discrimination based on their participation in abortion care.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"}]},"other_helpers":{"title":"Protected; no criminal exposure","summary":"Anyone who helps another obtain an abortion — by driving, paying, providing information, or otherwise assisting — is protected from penalty under D.C. law.","description":"Friends, family members, clergy, employers, or anyone else who helps a person obtain an abortion in D.C. — by providing a ride, paying for the procedure, offering a place to stay, or giving information — faces no criminal or civil liability under D.C. law. The law explicitly protects those who assist someone seeking an abortion. The shield law also prevents D.C. agencies from helping other states investigate or prosecute such assistance.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/2-1461.01"}]}}},"aiding_and_assisting":{"travel_assistance":{"title":"Protected; no travel restrictions","summary":"Helping someone travel to or from D.C. for an abortion is not criminalized; D.C. has no 'abortion trafficking' statute and its shield law blocks interstate enforcement.","description":"It is legal in D.C. to help someone travel to obtain an abortion, whether the travel is within D.C. or from another state into D.C. D.C. has no law criminalizing 'abortion trafficking' or the transportation of a minor for abortion — there is no parental involvement law to trigger such a concern. The shield law prevents D.C. from helping other states investigate or prosecute someone for assisting with travel.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/2-1461.01"},{"name":"D.C. Office of the Attorney General","href":"https://oag.dc.gov/release/consumer-alert-questions-and-answers-abortion-care"}]},"funding":{"title":"Protected; no funding prohibition","summary":"Paying for someone else's abortion or abortion-related travel is lawful in D.C.; nonprofit abortion funds operate openly, and no D.C. law restricts private funding.","description":"Private funding of abortion — by individuals, nonprofits, employers, or anyone else — is legal in D.C. The DC Abortion Fund openly helps people pay for abortion care and related travel. Employers may include abortion travel benefits in their health plans. D.C. does not restrict private funding of abortion. The only funding restriction is on government money: Congress blocks D.C. from using its own locally raised tax dollars to pay for abortion through Medicaid, and federal funds are restricted by the Hyde Amendment to cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/31-3834.03a"}]},"mailing_pills":{"title":"Protected under current law","summary":"Mailing abortion medication into or within D.C. is not prohibited by D.C. law and is currently permitted under FDA rules preserved by the Supreme Court stay in Louisiana v. FDA.","description":"Under current law, abortion medication can be mailed to someone in D.C. D.C. law explicitly protects those who provide, dispense, or transfer self-managed abortion products. The FDA permits mifepristone to be dispensed by mail and through certified pharmacies. A federal appeals court ordered the FDA to reinstate in-person dispensing requirements in 2026, but the Supreme Court put that order on hold, so mail access continues for now. The ultimate legality of mailing abortion pills under the federal Comstock Act remains unresolved as the Louisiana v. FDA litigation proceeds.","verification":"verified","confidence":"medium","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"}]},"providing_information":{"title":"Protected; no information liability","summary":"Providing information, referrals, or websites about abortion is lawful in D.C.; no statute restricts speech about abortion and the First Amendment protects it.","description":"Giving someone information about how to obtain an abortion — including referrals to clinics, websites, or hotlines — is fully legal in D.C. No law restricts this. The U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protects speech about lawful activities, and D.C. law explicitly protects the provision of information about reproductive health decisions from government interference.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"}]},"civil_bounty":{"title":"No civil bounty law","summary":"D.C. has no SB8-style private civil enforcement mechanism; no statute authorizes private individuals to sue abortion providers, patients, or helpers.","description":"D.C. does not have any law like the Texas SB8 that allows private citizens to sue anyone involved in an abortion for money damages. No one — not a neighbor, relative, or stranger — can sue you, your doctor, or anyone who helped you for having or facilitating an abortion in D.C. The only private right of action in D.C. abortion law operates in the opposite direction: it allows people sued in other states for abortion-related conduct lawful in D.C. to sue the out-of-state plaintiffs back for damages.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/2-1461.02"}]}},"procedural_requirements":{"waiting_period":{"title":"No waiting period","summary":"D.C. imposes no mandatory waiting period between counseling and abortion; a person can obtain an abortion as soon as an appointment is available.","description":"There is no mandatory waiting period in D.C. You do not have to wait any set number of hours or days after receiving information or counseling before you can have an abortion. Once you have an appointment, you can receive care immediately. This applies to both medication and procedural abortion.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Office of the Attorney General","href":"https://oag.dc.gov/release/consumer-alert-questions-and-answers-abortion-care"}]},"mandatory_counseling":{"title":"No state-scripted counseling","summary":"D.C. does not require state-scripted counseling or the provision of state-prepared materials before an abortion.","description":"In D.C., there is no requirement that you receive state-scripted information or watch state-prepared materials before getting an abortion. The general medical standard of informed consent applies, meaning your provider will discuss the procedure, risks, and alternatives with you, but there is no government-mandated script or materials you must receive. There are no medically contested statements that the law requires a provider to deliver.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/3-1205.14"}]},"ultrasound_requirement":{"title":"No ultrasound requirement","summary":"D.C. law does not require an ultrasound before an abortion, nor any offer, performance, or display of ultrasound imaging.","description":"You are not required to have an ultrasound before an abortion in D.C. A provider may perform one as part of standard medical care (to determine gestational age, for example), but no law mandates it, and no law requires the provider to show or describe ultrasound images to you.","verification":"not_applicable","confidence":"high"},"in_person_visits":{"title":"Zero required in-person visits","summary":"D.C. law requires zero in-person visits for abortion; medication abortion is available via telehealth without any in-person requirement.","description":"You are not required to make any in-person visits to obtain an abortion in D.C. You can receive medication abortion through a telehealth appointment and have the pills mailed to you. For procedural abortion, one visit to the clinic is needed for the procedure itself, but there is no legal requirement for a separate advance visit. The combined effect of D.C.'s laws is zero mandated trips beyond the procedure itself.","verification":"semi_verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC","href":"https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-metropolitan-washington-dc/patient-resources/abortion-dc/medication-abortion-home-telehealth"}]}},"minors":{"parental_involvement":{"title":"No parental involvement required","summary":"D.C. law imposes no parental consent or notification requirement for minors seeking abortion; minors of any age may consent to abortion on their own.","description":"If you are under 18 and live in or travel to D.C., you do not need your parents' permission or knowledge to get an abortion. D.C. law explicitly allows minors of any age to consent to abortion on their own, and your medical records about the abortion are confidential. Your parents are not notified. The D.C. Attorney General has confirmed this publicly.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"National Center for Youth Law / D.C. Municipal Regulations","href":"https://youthlaw.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/NCYLMinorConsentCompendium2024-DistrictOfColumbia.pdf"},{"name":"D.C. Office of the Attorney General","href":"https://oag.dc.gov/release/consumer-alert-questions-and-answers-abortion-care"}]},"judicial_bypass":{"title":"Not applicable; no parental requirement","summary":"Because D.C. has no parental involvement requirement for abortion, there is no need for a judicial bypass procedure.","description":"Since D.C. does not require minors to involve their parents in an abortion decision, there is no judicial bypass process. A minor can consent to an abortion on their own without needing to go to court.","verification":"not_applicable","confidence":"high"}},"paternal_spousal_rights":{"consent_or_notice_laws":{"title":"No spousal or paternal consent law","summary":"D.C. has no statute requiring spousal or paternal consent or notice for abortion; the D.C. Attorney General confirms no permission is needed from 'the other person involved in the pregnancy.'","description":"D.C. law does not require a married person to get their spouse's consent or to notify their spouse before having an abortion. It also does not require the person who caused the pregnancy to consent or be notified. You do not need permission from anyone other than yourself to have an abortion in D.C.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Office of the Attorney General","href":"https://oag.dc.gov/release/consumer-alert-questions-and-answers-abortion-care"}]},"enforceability":{"title":"Not applicable; no law to enforce","summary":"Because D.C. has no spousal or paternal consent or notification statute, the constitutionality of such laws under Danforth and Casey is immaterial.","description":"D.C. never enacted a spousal or paternal consent or notice law, so there is no statute to challenge or enforce. The U.S. Supreme Court cases that struck down such laws in other states — Planned Parenthood v. Danforth (1976) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) — are not directly relevant to D.C. because there is no D.C. law on the books to test.","verification":"not_applicable","confidence":"high"},"other_paternal_rights":{"title":"Fetal wrongful death action; no veto right","summary":"A father has no right to veto an abortion, but under Greater Southeast Community Hospital v. Williams, the estate of a viable stillborn fetus may bring wrongful death and survival actions, which could theoretically be used by a father as personal representative.","description":"A biological father or spouse cannot prevent someone from having an abortion in D.C. There is no legal mechanism for a father to block or delay an abortion. However, if a viable fetus is injured and stillborn due to someone else's negligence — such as a car accident — a wrongful death lawsuit can be brought. The D.C. Court of Appeals has held that a viable fetus is a 'person' under the wrongful death and survival statutes. The dissenting judge in that case warned this could theoretically be used by a father against a doctor who performs an abortion, but no such case has succeeded in D.C. The mother's statutory right to abortion and the absence of any criminal abortion statute would make such a claim extremely unlikely to succeed.","verification":"verified","confidence":"medium","sources":[{"name":"Justia","href":"https://law.justia.com/cases/district-of-columbia/court-of-appeals/1984/82-1655-3.html"}]}},"fetal_personhood":{"fetal_homicide_law":{"title":"No fetal homicide statute","summary":"D.C. has no standalone fetal homicide or feticide statute; killing a fetus is not separately criminalized under D.C. criminal law.","description":"D.C. does not have a law making it a separate crime to kill a fetus. If a pregnant person is assaulted and loses the pregnancy, the attacker can be charged with assault against the pregnant person, but there is no separate homicide charge for the fetus. This is consistent with D.C.'s approach of treating abortion as a protected right rather than a crime. The federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act applies to certain federal crimes committed in D.C., but not to ordinary state-law crimes.","verification":"semi_verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"Denver University","href":"https://digitalcommons.du.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1036&context=crimlawrev"}]},"wrongful_death":{"title":"Viable fetus is a 'person' for wrongful death","summary":"Under Greater Southeast Community Hospital v. Williams (1984), a viable fetus is a 'person' under D.C.'s wrongful death and survival statutes, allowing a cause of action for tortious prenatal death of a viable fetus.","description":"If a viable fetus (one that could survive outside the womb) is killed due to someone's negligent or wrongful act — such as a car accident or medical malpractice — the personal representative of the fetus's estate can bring a wrongful death lawsuit. The D.C. Court of Appeals made this ruling in 1984. The decision applies only to viable fetuses and only to deaths caused by tortious (wrongful) conduct. It does not apply to lawful abortions. A dissenting judge warned the ruling could theoretically be used to sue abortion providers, but no such case has succeeded.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"Justia","href":"https://law.justia.com/cases/district-of-columbia/court-of-appeals/1984/82-1655-3.html"}]},"personhood_definition":{"title":"No statutory fetal personhood","summary":"D.C. has no statute or constitutional provision defining an unborn child as a 'person,' 'human being,' or 'child' for purposes of criminal or civil law beyond the Williams wrongful-death holding.","description":"D.C. law does not contain any provision declaring that a fetus is a person or that life begins at conception. There is no fetal personhood language in D.C. statutes or in any D.C. constitutional provision. The only legal recognition of fetal interests is the 1984 court ruling that allows wrongful-death lawsuits for viable fetuses killed by tortious acts, which is a civil remedy, not a personhood declaration.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"}]},"contradictions_analysis":"D.C. law presents a notable internal tension between civil and criminal/regulatory treatment of the fetus. On the civil side, the D.C. Court of Appeals held in Greater Southeast Community Hospital v. Williams (1984) that a viable fetus is a 'person' under the wrongful death and survival statutes — meaning that a tortfeasor who negligently kills a viable fetus in utero is civilly liable as if they had killed a born person. This is a personhood-adjacent holding: the court reasoned that once D.C. recognized a viable fetus's right to be free of tortious injury (following Bonbrest v. Kotz), the fetus must also be a 'person' for purposes of statutory remedies when that injury causes death. The dissent explicitly warned this logic could be used by a father to sue an abortion provider. On the criminal and regulatory side, D.C. has no fetal homicide statute — the killing of a fetus is not separately criminalized — and D.C. Code § 7-2086.01 expressly recognizes the pregnant individual's right to abortion and prohibits the government from penalizing any person for seeking, inducing, or assisting an abortion. The contradiction is not fully resolved: Williams remains good law for tortious (non-abortion) prenatal death, while the statutory framework makes clear that a lawful abortion is not a 'wrongful act' and thus cannot support a Williams claim. But the dissent's scenario — a father suing a doctor on behalf of an aborted viable fetus — has never been tested in D.C. courts, and the tension between Williams's 'person' language and the abortion-protective statute could surface in future litigation."},"telehealth_and_interstate":{"telehealth_prescribing":{"title":"Telehealth permitted; no in-state restriction","summary":"Telehealth prescribing of abortion medication is permitted in D.C. without restriction; providers may prescribe from in-state or out-of-state, and medication may be mailed.","description":"You can get a prescription for abortion medication through a telehealth appointment in D.C. Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC offers this service. The medication can be mailed to your home or picked up at a pharmacy. D.C. law does not require an in-person visit, and there is no restriction on a provider from another state prescribing medication abortion to a patient in D.C., though the out-of-state provider must comply with any professional obligations in their own state.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"}]},"out_of_state_travel":{"title":"Travel out fully lawful; no restriction","summary":"D.C. residents may lawfully travel to any other jurisdiction for abortion; D.C. imposes no restriction on out-of-state travel and affirmatively protects the right to travel.","description":"If you live in D.C., you can travel to another state for an abortion. D.C. law does not restrict or penalize travel for abortion. The D.C. Attorney General has affirmed that people from other states are welcome to travel to D.C. for abortion care. D.C.'s shield law also protects people who assist with travel from out-of-state investigations.","verification":"not_applicable","confidence":"high"},"shield_or_hostile_laws":{"title":"Strong shield state","summary":"D.C. is a robust shield jurisdiction: its laws prohibit government cooperation with out-of-state investigations, block subpoenas, protect provider licenses, and create a clawback right of action against out-of-state plaintiffs.","description":"D.C. is a 'shield' state — it has strong laws protecting people who provide, receive, or help with abortion in D.C. from legal attacks by other states. These laws prevent D.C. government agencies from helping other states investigate or prosecute abortion-related conduct that is legal in D.C. They block out-of-state subpoenas unless accompanied by a sworn statement that they are not targeting protected conduct. They protect health care providers' licenses from being disciplined based on out-of-state actions. And they let people sued in other states for abortion-related conduct sue the out-of-state plaintiffs back in D.C. court for damages. Congress has introduced a bill to repeal D.C.'s shield law (the D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act), but it has not been enacted.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/2-1461.01"},{"name":"D.C. Law Library (via D.C. Law 24-257)","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/24-257"},{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/2-1461.02"},{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/3-1205.14"}]}},"funding_and_insurance":{"medicaid":{"title":"Hyde Amendment only; Dornan rider","summary":"D.C. Medicaid covers abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment due to the federal Hyde Amendment and the Dornan Amendment, which blocks D.C. from using its own locally raised funds for broader coverage.","description":"If you are on Medicaid in D.C., your insurance will only cover abortion if the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest, or if your life is in danger. This is because of two federal restrictions: the Hyde Amendment, which blocks federal funds from being used for most abortions, and the Dornan Amendment, a congressional rider that goes further and blocks D.C. from using its own locally raised tax dollars — not just federal money — to cover abortion through Medicaid. This means that even though D.C. wants to use its own money to help low-income residents afford abortion, Congress prevents it from doing so. No other jurisdiction faces this dual restriction.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/31-3834.03a"},{"name":"U.S. Congress","href":"https://reproductiverights.org/maps/abortion-laws-by-state/washington-dc"}]},"private_insurance":{"title":"Mandatory coverage without cost-sharing","summary":"D.C. law requires all individual and group health plans to cover abortion and abortion-care services without deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments, except for high-deductible health plans where federal law requires cost-sharing.","description":"Private health insurance plans in D.C. must cover abortion and related follow-up services. They cannot charge you a deductible, copay, or coinsurance for this coverage. The only exception is if you have a high-deductible health plan — in that case, federal tax law may require some cost-sharing. All D.C. Health Link marketplace plans cover abortion as of 2025 and 2026.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/31-3834.03a"}]},"exchange_plans":{"title":"All exchange plans cover abortion","summary":"All individual and family marketplace plans on DC Health Link cover abortion as of 2025 and 2026; the coverage mandate applies to all plans on the exchange.","description":"Every health insurance plan sold through DC Health Link — D.C.'s Affordable Care Act marketplace — covers abortion as of 2025 and 2026. Because D.C. law requires all individual and group plans to cover abortion without cost-sharing, this applies to exchange plans as well. You can choose any plan on the marketplace and have abortion coverage included.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"DC Health Link","href":"https://www.dchealthlink.com/faqs/which-health-plans-offered-through-dc-health-link-include-abortion-coverage-and-which-plans-do"},{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/31-3834.03a"}]},"state_funding_of_providers":{"title":"No defunding; no affirmative state funding","summary":"D.C. does not defund abortion providers, but the Dornan Amendment prevents D.C. from using its own tax dollars to fund abortion services through Medicaid; no separate state appropriation funds abortion care.","description":"D.C. does not have a law that defunds Planned Parenthood or other abortion providers — they can receive public funds for non-abortion services. At the same time, D.C. does not have a specific state-funded program that pays for abortion care, in part because the Dornan Amendment would block it if it tried. The DC Abortion Fund and other nonprofits fill the gap.","verification":"not_applicable","confidence":"high"}},"congressional_oversight":{"title":"Congress can override D.C. abortion law","summary":"Under the Home Rule Act, Congress reviews all D.C. legislation and may override it; the Dornan Amendment already restricts D.C. Medicaid abortion funding, and Congress could ban abortion in D.C. entirely.","description":"Washington, D.C. is not a state, so Congress has the final say over its laws. Under the Home Rule Act of 1973, every law the D.C. Council passes goes through a congressional review period — usually 30 or 60 legislative days — before it takes effect. Congress can block any D.C. law by passing a joint resolution of disapproval. It can also pass its own laws that directly govern D.C. And it can attach riders to appropriations bills that restrict what D.C. can do. Congress has already used this power to restrict abortion in D.C.: the Dornan Amendment, a rider to the annual D.C. appropriations bill, blocks D.C. from using its own locally raised tax dollars to cover abortion through Medicaid. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush vetoed the D.C. appropriations bill twice over abortion funding, forcing Congress to add the restriction. With a hostile Congress and President, D.C.'s entire abortion-protection framework could be overridden by federal legislation.","verification":"verified","confidence":"high","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/24-257"},{"name":"U.S. Constitution","href":"https://reproductiverights.org/maps/abortion-laws-by-state/washington-dc"}]}},"penalties":[{"actor":"Pregnant person","offense":"No offense; expressly exempt from penalty","penalty":"None. D.C. Code § 7-2086.01(c)(3)(A) prohibits any penalty.","verification":"verified","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"}]},{"actor":"Physician / health care professional","offense":"No criminal abortion offense exists","penalty":"None for abortion provision. General medical professional discipline available under D.C. Code § 3-1205.14 for substandard care (civil fine up to $5,000 per violation, license revocation/suspension, reprimand), but not for abortion as such.","verification":"verified","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/3-1205.14"}]},{"actor":"Pharmacist / prescriber","offense":"No criminal abortion offense exists","penalty":"None for dispensing or prescribing abortion medication within scope of practice. General professional discipline may apply for standard-of-care violations.","verification":"semi_verified"},{"actor":"Helper / assistant / funder","offense":"No offense; expressly protected","penalty":"None. D.C. Code § 7-2086.01(c)(3)(C)-(D) protects those who assist or provide self-managed abortion products.","verification":"verified","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01"}]},{"actor":"Clinic protester / obstructer","offense":"Willfully or recklessly interfering with access to a medical facility or disrupting its normal functioning (D.C. Code § 22-1314.02)","penalty":"Misdemeanor: fine up to amount set in D.C. Code § 22-3571.01, imprisonment up to 180 days, or both.","verification":"verified","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-1314.02"}]}],"recent_changes":[{"date":"2020-05-06","event":"D.C. Law 23-90 (Strengthening Reproductive Health Protections Amendment Act of 2020) took effect, codifying in D.C. Code § 7-2086.01 the right of every individual to choose or refuse contraception or sterilization, to carry a pregnancy to term, give birth, or have an abortion. The law prohibits the District government from interfering with reproductive health decisions, prohibits penalties for self-managed abortion, and prohibits employment discrimination against health care professionals who participate in abortion care.","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/23-90"}]},{"date":"2023-02-23","event":"D.C. Law 24-254 (Enhancing Reproductive Health Protections Amendment Act of 2022) took effect, expanding protections in D.C. Code § 7-2086.01 to explicitly protect individuals who self-manage abortion, those who assist them, and those who provide or transfer self-managed abortion products. Clarified that acts or omissions during pregnancy based on impact on health or pregnancy are not penalized.","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/24-254"}]},{"date":"2023-02-23","event":"D.C. Law 24-257 (Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022) took effect, creating comprehensive shield protections: prohibiting District cooperation with out-of-state investigations targeting abortion and other protected conduct, blocking out-of-state subpoenas without certification, and creating a clawback right of action against out-of-state plaintiffs.","sources":[{"name":"D.C. Law Library","href":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/24-257"}]},{"date":"2025-12-03","event":"Rep. Andrew Clyde (GA-09) introduced the D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act in Congress, seeking to nullify D.C.'s Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022. If enacted, this would eliminate D.C.'s shield law protections.","sources":[{"name":"Office of Rep. Andrew Clyde","href":"https://clyde.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3366"}]}],"pending_changes":[{"name":"Louisiana v. FDA (mifepristone litigation)","type":"litigation","status":"Fifth Circuit ordered reinstatement of in-person dispensing requirements for mifepristone; Supreme Court stayed that order on May 14, 2026, preserving status quo (telehealth prescribing and mail dispensing) while litigation continues. Supreme Court review likely.","effect":"If the Fifth Circuit order ultimately takes effect, in-person dispensing would be required for mifepristone nationwide, including in D.C., eliminating mail-order and telehealth prescribing of medication abortion. This would be the most significant restriction on abortion access in D.C. since the repeal of its criminal ban.","sources":[{"name":"SCOTUSblog","href":"https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/05/court-allows-for-access-to-abortion-pill-by-mail-for-now"}]},{"name":"Florida and Texas v. FDA (mifepristone approval challenge)","type":"litigation","status":"Filed December 2025 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Challenges FDA's original 2000 approval of mifepristone, 2016/2021/2023 REMS modifications, and generic approvals.","effect":"If successful, could remove mifepristone from the U.S. market entirely, ending medication abortion nationwide — including in D.C.","sources":[{"name":"EMAA Project","href":"https://emaaproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/EMAA-__-Mifepristone-Court-Cases-Updated-1.5.26.docx1_.pdf"}]},{"name":"D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act (federal)","type":"legislation","status":"Introduced Dec. 3, 2025, by Rep. Andrew Clyde (GA-09); referred to committee. Has not been enacted.","effect":"Would nullify D.C. Law 24-257 (Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022), eliminating D.C.'s shield protections and exposing D.C.-based providers, patients, and helpers to out-of-state investigations and subpoenas.","sources":[{"name":"Office of Rep. Andrew Clyde","href":"https://clyde.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3366"}]}],"key_authorities":[{"name":"Government Noninterference in Reproductive Health Decisions","citation":"D.C. Code § 7-2086.01","type":"statute","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2086.01","why":"The foundational D.C. statute codifying the right to abortion and prohibiting government interference, including protections for self-managed abortion."},{"name":"Human Rights Sanctuary — Government Nonparticipation","citation":"D.C. Code § 2-1461.01","type":"statute","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/2-1461.01","why":"Core shield law prohibiting D.C. government cooperation with out-of-state investigations targeting abortion providers, patients, and helpers."},{"name":"Human Rights Sanctuary — Private Right of Action (Clawback)","citation":"D.C. Code § 2-1461.02","type":"statute","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/2-1461.02","why":"Allows D.C. defendants to recover damages from out-of-state plaintiffs who obtain judgments against them for abortion care lawful in D.C."},{"name":"Private Insurance Abortion Coverage Mandate","citation":"D.C. Code § 31-3834.03a","type":"statute","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/31-3834.03a","why":"Requires all individual and group health plans in D.C. to cover abortion without cost-sharing, one of the strongest insurance mandates nationally."},{"name":"Clinic Access Protection","citation":"D.C. Code § 22-1314.02","type":"statute","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-1314.02","why":"Criminalizes obstruction, trespassing, and interference with medical facilities, protecting abortion clinic access."},{"name":"Licensing Board Shield for Reproductive Health Care","citation":"D.C. Code § 3-1205.14(e-1)","type":"statute","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/3-1205.14","why":"Prohibits D.C. licensing boards from disciplining providers based on out-of-state actions targeting reproductive health care lawful in D.C."},{"name":"Greater Southeast Community Hospital v. Williams","citation":"482 A.2d 394 (D.C. 1984)","type":"case","url":"https://law.justia.com/cases/district-of-columbia/court-of-appeals/1984/82-1655-3.html","why":"Holds that a viable fetus is a 'person' under D.C. wrongful death and survival statutes, creating potential tension with abortion-protective statutes."},{"name":"D.C. Law 23-90 (Strengthening Reproductive Health Protections)","citation":"D.C. Law 23-90 (2020)","type":"statute","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/23-90","why":"Enacted the original statutory right to abortion in D.C. and prohibited penalties for self-managed abortion and discrimination against abortion providers."},{"name":"D.C. Law 24-254 (Enhancing Reproductive Health Protections)","citation":"D.C. Law 24-254 (2023)","type":"statute","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/24-254","why":"Expanded protections for self-managed abortion, helpers, and providers of self-managed abortion products."},{"name":"D.C. Law 24-257 (Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act)","citation":"D.C. Law 24-257 (2023)","type":"statute","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/24-257","why":"Created D.C.'s comprehensive shield law including subpoena blocking, noncooperation mandate, and clawback cause of action."},{"name":"Minor Consent for Abortion","citation":"D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 22-B, § 600.7","type":"regulation","url":"https://youthlaw.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/NCYLMinorConsentCompendium2024-DistrictOfColumbia.pdf","why":"Permits minors of any age to consent to abortion without parental involvement."},{"name":"Home Rule Act — Congressional Review","citation":"D.C. Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)","type":"statute","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/24-257","why":"Subjects all D.C. legislation to congressional review, creating ongoing federal vulnerability for all D.C. abortion protections."},{"name":"Congressional Power over the District of Columbia","citation":"U.S. Const. art. I, § 8, cl. 17","type":"constitution","url":"https://reproductiverights.org/maps/abortion-laws-by-state/washington-dc","why":"Grants Congress plenary legislative authority over D.C., enabling it to override or preempt any D.C. abortion law."},{"name":"D.C. OAG Consumer Alert on Abortion Care","citation":"D.C. Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Alert (undated, current)","type":"agency_guidance","url":"https://oag.dc.gov/release/consumer-alert-questions-and-answers-abortion-care","why":"Authoritative public guidance confirming that D.C. law was unchanged by Dobbs, abortion is legal at all stages, no parental permission is required, and out-of-state patients are welcome."}],"research_notes":{"overall_confidence":"high","editor_notes":"Re-verify the current status of the Dornan Amendment in the most recent D.C. appropriations act. Monitor Louisiana v. FDA at the Supreme Court — a decision could materially alter medication abortion access in D.C. The D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act (federal bill) is a live threat; track its progress through Congress. Confirm the full text of D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, § 5808.5 regarding nurse-midwife scope of practice. The D.C. Council may introduce additional abortion-protective legislation in the current council period; check the LIMS system for pending bills. Confirm whether any religious-employer exemption exists to the private-insurance abortion coverage mandate.","gaps":["Whether the Dornan Amendment has been renewed in the current (FY 2025 or FY 2026) D.C. appropriations bill at the time of research. It has been included annually since 1995 (with brief exceptions), but its current status should be confirmed against the latest enacted appropriations law.","The exact language of D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, § 5808.5 restricting certified nurse-midwives from performing surgical abortion was not directly retrieved from the DCMR; it was cited by the Center for Reproductive Rights. The primary text should be verified from the D.C. Municipal Regulations.","The effective date of D.C. Code § 31-3834.03a (private insurance abortion coverage mandate) could not be definitively confirmed from the retrieved sources; it was likely enacted as part of the Reproductive Health Insurance Coverage Expansion Amendment Act of 2022 or 2023.","The viability line for wrongful-death claims under Williams v. Greater Southeast Community Hospital has not been tested post-Dobbs or against D.C. Code § 7-2086.01. Whether a wrongful-death claim predicated on a lawful abortion would survive a motion to dismiss is uncertain.","The precise scope of certified nurse-midwife authority to provide medication abortion in D.C. was not confirmed by primary regulatory text."]}}