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| Lawsuit takes aim at Arizona abortion law's controversial 'reversal' provision | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| A coalition of healthcare providers and reproductive rights groups are challenging in federal court a provision of a new Arizona law, which requires doctors in the state to tell women having a drug-induced abortion that the procedure is reversible, advice regarded by most medical experts as wrong and misleading. | A coalition of healthcare providers and reproductive rights groups are challenging in federal court a provision of a new Arizona law, which requires doctors in the state to tell women having a drug-induced abortion that the procedure is reversible, advice regarded by most medical experts as wrong and misleading. |
| The new law is the latest in a wave of regulations adopted by lawmakers in the state to restrict women’s access to the procedure, though many attempts have been blocked in court, including one that limited the use of abortion-inducing medications. | The new law is the latest in a wave of regulations adopted by lawmakers in the state to restrict women’s access to the procedure, though many attempts have been blocked in court, including one that limited the use of abortion-inducing medications. |
| The lawsuit, brought by Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights, argues that compelling doctors to provide this information against their best medical judgement, with “extreme consequences” for non-compliance, is a violation of their first amendment rights. | The lawsuit, brought by Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights, argues that compelling doctors to provide this information against their best medical judgement, with “extreme consequences” for non-compliance, is a violation of their first amendment rights. |
| “This reckless law forces doctors to lie to their patients, and it puts women’s health at risk,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “This law should never have passed, and we’re asking the court to stop it from going into effect.” | “This reckless law forces doctors to lie to their patients, and it puts women’s health at risk,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “This law should never have passed, and we’re asking the court to stop it from going into effect.” |
| The thrust of the law is to ban insurers from covering abortions under plans sold through the federal health exchange created by the Affordable Care Act. But it was amended to include the controversial provision that requires doctors and abortion providers in Arizona to give women seeking the procedure “information on and assistance with reversing the effects of a medication abortion is available on the department of health services’ website”. | The thrust of the law is to ban insurers from covering abortions under plans sold through the federal health exchange created by the Affordable Care Act. But it was amended to include the controversial provision that requires doctors and abortion providers in Arizona to give women seeking the procedure “information on and assistance with reversing the effects of a medication abortion is available on the department of health services’ website”. |
| “Extreme legislators are so focused on preventing a woman from getting an abortion that they will completely ignore the medical experts and hide behind bad medicine,” said Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project. | “Extreme legislators are so focused on preventing a woman from getting an abortion that they will completely ignore the medical experts and hide behind bad medicine,” said Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project. |
| “Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated instance. In too many states across the country, legislators are pushing laws that are opposed by leading medical organizations for the sole purpose of shutting down women’s health centers and stopping a woman from getting an abortion.” | “Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated instance. In too many states across the country, legislators are pushing laws that are opposed by leading medical organizations for the sole purpose of shutting down women’s health centers and stopping a woman from getting an abortion.” |
| Women having medical abortions typically take two drugs over the course of a few days. The first drug, mifepristone, ends pregnancies in 50%-70% of cases, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). In response to to the Arizona legislation, ACOG said in a fact sheet: “Claims of medication abortion reversal are not supported by the body of scientific evidence.” | Women having medical abortions typically take two drugs over the course of a few days. The first drug, mifepristone, ends pregnancies in 50%-70% of cases, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). In response to to the Arizona legislation, ACOG said in a fact sheet: “Claims of medication abortion reversal are not supported by the body of scientific evidence.” |
| The Center for Arizona Policy, which supports the legislation, attacked Planned Parenthood for bringing the lawsuit, and accused the organization of trying to shield “vital information” from women. | The Center for Arizona Policy, which supports the legislation, attacked Planned Parenthood for bringing the lawsuit, and accused the organization of trying to shield “vital information” from women. |
| “Women who have began a chemical abortion process and change their minds, for whatever reason, should not have their baby stolen from them because Planned Parenthood, or any abortionist, withheld potentially life-saving facts,” said Josh Kredit, the center’s general counsel and vice-president of policy. | |
| Arizona was the first state to pass such a law, and Arkansas followed suit in April. Arizona’s law is scheduled to take effect 3 July. | Arizona was the first state to pass such a law, and Arkansas followed suit in April. Arizona’s law is scheduled to take effect 3 July. |