The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit upheld a lower court’s decision to block a Wisconsin law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.
“[The Dec. 20] ruling marks a major victory for Wisconsin women and sends a message to lawmakers across the country: it is unconstitutional for politicians to pass laws under a false guise of women’s safety in order to interfere in a woman’s personal medical decisions,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). “Far from protecting women’s health, the effect of this law if it took effect would be to force an abortion later in pregnancy or cut off access to safe and legal abortion.”
Soon after the original measure was passed in July, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of Wisconsin, PPFA and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin filed charges, arguing that the law singles out doctors who provide abortions for medically unnecessary restrictions, and a judge temporarily blocked it.
The law threatened to close at least two clinics and reduce access and services at others in Wisconsin. It will stay blocked while a trial on the constitutionality of the admitting privileges proceeds.
Media Resources: RH Reality Check 12/21/13; Planned Parenthood 12/20/13; American Civil Liberties Union 12/20/13; Feminist Newswire 7/8/13, 8/5/13
