Roe v. Wade-The Abortion Decision-An Analysis and Its Implications

In 1973, the United States Supreme Court\u27s decision in Roe v. Wade invalidated many state statutes prohibiting almost all abortions. This Comment examines the Supreme Court\u27s substantive due process and right to privacy analysis in Roe v. Wade to consider the decision\u27s implications in related areas of law. Under a substantive due process analysis, the decision in Roe v. Wade focused on the legislative purpose behind abortion statutes, in particular the Texas statute\u27s purpose of protecting the mother\u27s health and the fetus\u27 right to life. This Comment concludes by characterizing the Court\u27s substantive due process analysis as encompassing a controversial purpose test that when applied to other areas of law such as euthanasia and suicide could find all prohibitive legislation constitutionally impermissible