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Abortion providers sue to block Iowa's new 6-week 'fetal heartbeat' abortion ban
Abortion providers sue to block Iowa's new 6-week 'fetal heartbeat' abortion banCOMPLAINT
Abortion providers and the American Civil Liberties Union have filed a lawsuit against newly passed legislation in Iowa that would ban most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, when cardiac activity is detected in an embryo.
The Iowa Legislature approved the "fetal heartbeat" bill Tuesday in an all-day special session. When Gov. Kim Reynolds signs it into law on Friday, Iowa doctors will be forbidden from providing abortions after cardiac activity is detected with an abdominal ultrasound.
There are limited exceptions to the ban to preserve the life of the mother, and for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.
Medical providers say the law will prohibit most abortions after about six weeks of gestation — measured as six weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period.
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the Emma Goldman Clinic, and the ACLU of Iowa challenged the law on Wednesday. They're asking a Polk County District judge to temporarily block the law from taking effect, then to hear arguments about whether the law should be permanently blocked.
"If this abortion ban goes into effect, it will place an unacceptable burden on patients’ ability to access essential abortion care, especially those who already face systemic inequities," Planned Parenthood North Central States President Ruth Richardson said in a statement. "Hundreds of Iowans will be impacted in mere weeks. We refuse to stand idly by and will fight every step of the way to block this abortion ban and restore Iowans’ rights.”
The Iowa Legislature approved the "fetal heartbeat" bill Tuesday in an all-day special session. When Gov. Kim Reynolds signs it into law on Friday, Iowa doctors will be forbidden from providing abortions after cardiac activity is detected with an abdominal ultrasound.
There are limited exceptions to the ban to preserve the life of the mother, and for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.
Medical providers say the law will prohibit most abortions after about six weeks of gestation — measured as six weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period.
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the Emma Goldman Clinic, and the ACLU of Iowa challenged the law on Wednesday. They're asking a Polk County District judge to temporarily block the law from taking effect, then to hear arguments about whether the law should be permanently blocked.
"If this abortion ban goes into effect, it will place an unacceptable burden on patients’ ability to access essential abortion care, especially those who already face systemic inequities," Planned Parenthood North Central States President Ruth Richardson said in a statement. "Hundreds of Iowans will be impacted in mere weeks. We refuse to stand idly by and will fight every step of the way to block this abortion ban and restore Iowans’ rights.”
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Or, morans, if you prefer.
Have they ever been told, by experts, there is no, "heartbeat," at 6 weeks, or do they just choose not to believe it?
