District of Columbia

The pre-Roe statute prohibited performance of an abortion unless the procedure was “necessary for the preservation of the mother’s life or health . . . .”¹  The constitutionality of the statute was upheld in United States v. Vuitch,² where the Supreme Court broadly defined “health” as “the state of being sound in body or mind,” which “includes psychological as well as physical well-being.”³  The pre-Roe statute was repealed in 2003.⁴  The overruling of Roe v. Wade would not affect the legality of abortion in the District of Columbia.  Abortions could be performed for any reason at any time of pregnancy.