State representative Ashley Aune is trying to fight it, but doesn’t have high hopes.
Something you might have picked up on over the last several weeks/years/centuries is that there are a disturbing number of people in power who will go to great lengths to control women in America. Not convinced? Thinking of citing the fact that in some countries, women are stoned to death (as though that makes what happens here okay)? Then we’d like to make you aware of a law in Missouri that says pregnant women cannot get a divorce finalized if they’re pregnant—even if said pregnant people are victims of domestic violence.
It doesn’t? Who gets to make medical decisions if she can’t while delivering the baby? Maybe Daddy is willing to risk losing a woman he is divorcing anyhow but wants the baby. Or maybe she is going to travel out of state for an abortion and he gets the idea that can be used against her in court.
I legit do not understand any woman who is fertile living in a state like that. Just knowing that a clump of cells has more rights than she does.
The husband doesn’t have any rights during delivery and isn’t allowed to be in the delivery room without the moms permission.
Beyond that, and in the event of emergencies where the spouse cannot make their own medical decisions, if they know they don’t want their partner they’ve separated from able to make any on their behalf, you can choose at any time in your life who has medical power of attorney in those situations. It’s free to do except for paying a notary (your bank will usually notarize for free) and the bit of paperwork takes like 10 minutes. Give who you made the medical poa a copy, and have your primary care physicians office place another with your medical records.