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Texas-style clinic shutdown law declared unconstitutional

 

Baton Rouge, LA — In a victory for Louisiana women, a federal district court has blocked a clinic shutdown law that threatens to shutter all but one of the five clinics in the state, leaving thousands of women hundreds of miles from a health center. The plaintiffs in the case are represented by the Center for Reproductive Rights.

This comes just weeks before the U.S. Supreme Court hears a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding even broader restrictions in Texas that would severely limit access to safe, legal abortion across the state even further.

In Texas, researchers found thatat least 100,000 Texas women may have attempted to end a pregnancy on their own, without medical assistance. Existing abortion restrictions have already delayed procedures for women by up to 20 days, and if the provisions before the Supreme Court are upheld, they threaten to nearly double the percentage of abortions in the second trimester. While abortion is an extremely safe procedure, it is safest earlier in pregnancy.

Similar laws attacking women’s access to safe and legal abortion have been enjoined by state and federal courts in Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.

“We applaud the court for ruling on the side of Louisiana women, and the Center for Reproductive Rights for litigating this important case. Yet another court has ruled against government interference in a woman’s personal medical decisions about abortion,” said Cecile Richards, president, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “As a health care provider, we have seen the devastating consequences for women in states like Texas, where women have been forced to end pregnancies on their own, without medical assistance. We are deeply concerned that we will only see more of this if politicians continue to restrict access to safe, legal abortion.”

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With over 650 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.

Source

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Contact

Planned Parenthood Federation of America media office: 212-261-4433

Published

January 27, 2016

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