Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP)

Rhode Island imposes a variety of burdensome requirements on abortion providers that are not imposed on other health care providers, including:

Restrictions on Where Abortions May Be Performed

Rhode Island places medically unnecessary restrictions on where abortions may be performed.

Providers of any abortion services - including private physicians - must comply with administrative and patient testing requirements, and providers of first trimester surgical abortions must comply with additional physical plant requirements. R.I. Code R. 14 000 009.

Rhode Island requires that surgical abortions after the 14th week through the end of the 18th week of gestation must be performed in a hospital, a licensed freestanding ambulatory surgical center, a licensed physician office, or a freestanding surgical facility, and that after the 18th week of gestation, abortions must be performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgical center. R.I. Code R. 14 000 009, §§ 2.3 to 2.4.

Restrictions on Who May Perform Abortions

Rhode Island prohibits certain qualified health care professionals from performing abortions.

Only a physician licensed by the state to practice medicine or osteopathy or other licensed health care practitioner acting within the scope of his or her practice may perform abortions; however, surgical abortions may be performed only by a physician. R.I. Code R. 14 000 009, § 1.4, 1.5, 5.1 (Enacted 1973; Last Amended 2000).