The Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) have filed a lawsuit to strike down a parental notification law for abortion in Florida. Scheduled to go into effect July 1, the law would require doctors to notify parents 48 hours before performing an abortion for a woman under the age of 18 unless she is married or already has a child, reports the Associated Press.
Filed on behalf of four women’s health clinics and two individual physicians, the lawsuit contends that the notification requirement endangers the health and lives of young women by potentially delaying treatment in emergency cases. Further, the groups argue that the language of the bill is confusing, making it difficult for doctors to comply with the law in such a way as to provide timely health care to young women and girls. CRR attorney Janet Crepps said of the law, “The Florida legislature passed this law – claiming to protect teens – when, in fact, it jeopardizes their health and lives.”
