Announced the same day as the better known Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Case, this decision overturned the abortion law of Georgia. At the time abortion was only permitted in cases where the mother’s life was in danger, if there were severe birth defects or complications, or if the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest. The patient also needed medical approval and to be a resident of Georgia.
The same majority that made the final decision in Roe v. Wade also struck down the Georgia abortion law. The Court reiterated the protection of the "right to privacy," which applied to matters involving marriage, procreation, contraception, family relationships, child-rearing, and education. Together, Doe and Roe affirmed abortion as a constitutional right which would overturn most laws against abortion in other U.S. states.