A Wisconsin law that would require abortion clinic doctors to have admitting privileges to a hospital within 30 miles the clinic was blocked by a state judge Friday.
Judge William Conley extended a preliminary injunction indefinitely, following a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood and Affiliated Medical Services, who claimed that if enforced, abortion access would be restricted to the cities in Madison and Milwaukee. The law would have shut down two of the states four abortion clinics.
Conley has temporarily blocked this law three times previously. His 44-page ruling will put the law on hold indefinitely until it is decided whether or not the law is constitutional. The trial on the law scheduled to begin November 25th, 2013.
Conley wrote in his ruling, “Even if there were some evidence that the admitting privileges requirement would actually further women’s health, any benefit is greatly outweighed by the burdens caused by increased travel, decreased access and, at least for some women, the denial of an in-state option for abortion services.”
This law is similar to other restrictive anti-abortion legislature in other states that have been making headlines in recent months. “In Wisconsin, Texas, North Carolina and elsewhere we are seeing an unprecedented wave of attacks on women’s health, and people are fed up with it,” said Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood’s Federation of America, following Conley’s opinion.
A similar restrictive abortion access law in North Dakota was blocked by a state judge last week.
Media Resources: Rueters, 8/2/2013; LA Times, 8/3/2013: JS Online, 8/2/2013; Feminist Newswire, 8/1/2013
