The Supreme Court rejected a challenge this week to an Arkansas law that would block medication-induced abortions.
“Arkansas is now shamefully responsible for being the first state to ban medication abortion,” Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America said in a statement.
Lawyers for the state, however, say the law is a “commonsense requirement.”
The 2015 Arkansas law requires doctors who provide medication abortions to have a contract with a specialist with hospital privileges. Providers who don’t adhere to the law could face criminal penalties.
Abortion providers have said the requirement is unnecessary.
With the Supreme Court rejection to overturn the law, the law can take effect in mid-July. If the law does go into effect, it is likely that the Little Rock Planned Parenthood clinic will be the only site to continue operating in the state. The Little Rock location performs surgical abortions.
The Supreme Court did not release comment on its decision to not hear the case.
“This dangerous law also immediately ends access to safe, legal abortion at all but one health center in the state,” Laguens said. “If that’s not an undue burden, what is? This law cannot and must not stand. We will not stop fighting for every person’s right to access safe, legal abortion.”
Planned Parenthood says it will now challenge the law in U.S. district court.
Medication abortion includes a two-pill dosing that can only be used in the first nine weeks of pregnancy.
Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/AntonioGuillem
Publication date: May 29, 2018
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