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WASHINGTON (AP) — A broad examination of the nation's abortion services by an independent panel finds that abortions in the U.S. are very safe, but getting one without facing delays and false medical information depends on where women live.
The report Friday from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine shows abortion increasingly is performed early in pregnancy, when it's safest. The risk of maternal death is higher from tonsillectomies, colonoscopies and childbirth, according to the report.
While state restrictions may be intended to reduce overall abortions, the panel said those barriers can reduce the quality of care for women who undergo the procedure by preventing them from receiving the type of abortion that best meets their needs in a timely, equitable, science-based manner.
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