Vermont abortion laws are among the nation's most liberal.
The state, unlike many others, does not have waiting period before the procedure or limitations on public funding for abortion,
according to the legal website FindLaw.
Vermont also doesn't require abortion alternatives to be discussed with a women in counseling before the procedure takes place. The state is unusual because it allows abortions to be completed by nurse midwives, nurse practitioners and physicians assists. Most states require that abortions be performed by licensed physicians, FindLaw noted.
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For these reasons, Vermont ranks at No. 48 among states
, according to Americans United for Life, which noted that Vermont "lacks the most basic legal protections for women considering abortion, for unborn victims of criminal violence, and for nascent human life."
The AUL noted in its rating on its website that "Vermont allows abortions after viability, even in cases where the mother’s life or health is not endangered."
A study by the Guttmacher Institute on nationwide abortion restrictions ranked Vermont third from last of all states,
The Washington Post reported. In that research, Oklahoma was most restrictive while Oregon the least.
NARAL Pro-Choice America gave Vermont an A grade on its choice-related laws. It noted that 79 percent of all counties in the state (in 2011) did not have an abortion clinic. It also called the state's governor and both houses of the legislature pro-choice.
By turn, 89 percent of U.S. counties and 79 percent of Vermont counties had no
abortion clinic in 2011, the Guttmacher Institute reported.
The institute also noted that 1.1 million women in the U.S. sought abortions in 2011, marking a rate of 16.9 abortions per 1,000 women who are of reproductive age. In Vermont, the rate was was 12.5 abortions per 1,000 women ages 15-44.
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