Planned Parenthood Sues Arizona Over Abortion Law
A provision of the law requires doctors to tell patients that drug-induced abortions are reversible, which the group says "writes junk science into law." In Texas, state lawmakers adjourn after delivering mixed results for anti-abortion advocates. Elsewhere, GOP presidential-hopeful Scott Walker's comments on abortion and ultrasounds are scrutinized, and Iowa lawmakers pass a bill that requires providers to offer women seeking abortions an ultrasound image of their fetus.
USA Today:
Planned Parenthood Sues Arizona Over New Abortion Law
Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and the Center for Reproductive Rights filed suit in federal court Thursday to block a section of a new Arizona law requiring doctors to tell patients it is possible to reverse drug-induced abortions. "The measure we are challenging today writes junk science into law," said Bryan Howard, CEO of Planned Parenthood Arizona. "It puts the health and safety of women at risk." (Bacon, 6/4)
The Associated Press:
Planned Parenthood Sues Arizona Over New Abortion Law
Arizona abortion providers asked a federal judge Thursday to block part of a recently passed law that would require doctors to tell women they can reverse the effects of a drug-induced abortion. Planned Parenthood and Star Family Planning filed the complaint in federal court, arguing the new law violates abortion providers' First Amendment rights by forcing them to repeat a state-mandated message against their medical judgment. (Velzer and Christie, 6/5)
Kaiser Health News:
Anti-Abortion Activists See Mixed Results In Texas Legislature
If you’re keeping score, anti-abortion groups were 1 for 2 during this year’s legislative session in Texas, which ended Monday. One major bill they wanted failed, but another passed. The new law will tighten rules for girls under 18 who are asking a judge to grant an abortion — a small but politically significant fraction of those who seek the procedure. Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has until June 21 to veto the legislation, but observers say that’s highly unlikely given his longstanding opposition to abortion. (Feibel, 6/5)
The Washington Post's Fact Checker:
Walker’s Claim That A Controversial Abortion Law Allows A Choice Of Ultrasounds
Gov. Scott Walker, who plans to seek the GOP presidential nomination, caught some flak recently when he described ultrasound photographs of fetuses as a “cool thing out there.” He made that remark as part of a defense of signing a 2013 law that requires women considering an abortion to receive an ultrasound before undergoing the procedure. (We won’t get into the debate, but anti-abortion advocates argue that an ultrasound might convince a woman not to have an abortion—a theory disputed by others.) In a recent New Hampshire appearance, Walker was challenged by a voter who asked why he thought it was cool to have a transvaginal ultrasound. (Kessler, 6/5)
The Des Moines Register:
Legislators Pass Sonogram Language For Abortions
Any Iowa woman wanting an abortion would have to be offered the chance to look at an ultrasound of the fetus before undergoing the procedure, under a bill that passed both houses of the Legislature Wednesday evening. Women also would have to be offered information about abortion alternatives, including adoption. Abortion opponents hailed the bill as a major achievement, though the state's main abortion provider said it would have little practical effect. (Leys, 6/4)
