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California Ban on Prenatal Services for Immigrants Delayed

Legal challenges have delayed California’s attempt to deny prenatal services to illegal immigrant women. Because several groups, including pregnant women, private clinics, immigrants rights advocates, and the California Medical Association, are fighting the cutoff in court, the earliest it can be implemented is now Sept. 1, 1997. Plaintiffs argue that Governor Pete Wilson’s administration’s plans violate a federal statute which exempts pregnant immigrant women whose older children were beaten by their fathers from the ban. Individuals have pointed out that the cutoff will raise public health costs because it will cause more pregnant women to go to emergency rooms for high-risk deliveries which earlier checkups could have prevented. A hearing on the cutoff takes place on July 11, 1997 in Oakland Superior Court.

Sources:

Los Angeles Times - July 10, 1997

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