In the case of Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992), the Supreme Court upheld the central holding of Roe v. Wade (1973). Taken altogether, the central holding of that case states that the due process clause of the 14th Amendment protects a woman's right to privacy in the case of an abortion.

With the Casey decision, the Supreme Court examined the central holding of Roe v. Wade and divided it up into three parts.

This first part holds that a woman has the freedom to end a pregnancy with a non-viable fetus without "undue state interference."

The second part allows states to place restrictions on abortions once a fetus is viable. There must still be exceptions when continuing the pregnancy puts the woman's life and health in danger.

The third part of the central holding states that, from the beginning of the pregnancy, a state has a legitimate interest in protecting both the health of the woman and the health of the fetus.