What did Roe vs. Wade decide in 1973 regarding abortion?

The decision in Roe vs. Wade established that a woman has the constitutional right to choose to have an abortion, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy. The ruling determined that during the first trimester, the government cannot impose any restrictions on abortion; this places the decision solely in the hands of the woman and her physician.

In the second trimester, the ruling allows states to impose regulations related to maternal health, which could include certain restrictions, but still safeguards a woman's right to choose. In the third trimester, once the fetus becomes viable, states can limit abortions except when necessary to protect the woman's life or health. This nuanced approach balances the state's interest in regulating abortions as pregnancy progresses with a woman's right to privacy and bodily autonomy.

The other options do not reflect the ruling accurately: the first option contradicts the essence of the decision by stating that abortion is entirely illegal, while the third suggests that states can impose total bans, which Roe established as unconstitutional during certain stages of pregnancy. The fourth option inaccurately implies that consent must be sought in all trimesters, disregarding the rights established in the earlier parts of the decision. Hence, option B correctly encapsulates the essence of Roe vs. Wade’s ruling on abortion rights.