South West Abortion

Abortion has always been a controversial topic, even before the monumental decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade. Since it has been made legal, the issue of abortion is an even hotter subject.
Everyone has an opinion. Pro-choice. Anti-choice. Whichever side you choose, it’s important to know about the laws concerning reproductive rights. State governments, as well as the all-mighty federal government, concern themselves with abortion. What should be legal? Even more importantly, what should be illegal? And can a doctor refuse to perform an abortion or can a pharmacist refuse to give a patient contraceptive medicines or emergency contraception on moral and religious grounds?
In Arizona, Nebraska, and Hawaii, it is definitely legal for doctors to refuse to perform an abortion based on personal and “conscientious” beliefs. Arizona Senate Bill 1458 states that a health care institution can even refuse to admit a patient for abortion, contraception or any form of sterilization if the institution objects in writing on moral or religious grounds.
In many states, pharmacies are also permitted to refuse to provide any form of contraceptive or sterilizing medications if they find it morally wrong to do so. In these states, any health care professional who does refuse to perform an abortion or give contraceptive drugs can not be disciplined because they exercised rights of conscious. Both Arizona and Nebraska’s bills provide these protections to pharmacists and doctors.
In Hawaii, this subject is mentioned briefly in S453-16. It states that “Nothing in this section shall require any hospital or any person to participate in such abortion nor shall any hospital or any person be liable for such refusal.”
While there are numerous laws protecting women who get abortions in every state, (such as in Hawaii and Missouri, where only a licensed, trained physician can perform an abortion) there are a few laws that are in place that aim to protect the unborn fetus. New Mexico, for example, has a bill that states what is considered the murder of an unborn child and what is abortion. It also lists what punishment can be expected by committing the felony. Although California does support the right to abortion, the state also believes that the mother should have full knowledge of what she is doing. In California, if a woman wishes to get an abortion after the first trimester, it is the physician’s responsibility to provide the woman with information about fetal pain. The physician must also ask the woman if she wants the baby anesthetized before the abortion is performed and make sure the woman still wants to go through with it after she is informed of everything.
Nevada, Utah and Texas both have laws concerning contraceptive equity, which requires coverage by health insurance of FDA approved contraceptive drugs and devices. There are exemptions based on religious beliefs. Texas and Oklahoma both have bans on Partial-birth Abortion and they also require parental consent before a minor can have an abortion.
Are these laws right? Or do they infringe upon the rights of patients? Not all doctors are trained to perform abortions, so they can morally step away from the situation. The question is, however, does a PhD, or a title of “Congressman,” “Senator,” or even ”President” qualify a person to determine what is right and morally just far all the women of the United States?