On Wednesday Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge asked the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reject a request from Planned Parenthood that would prevent implementation of the state’s law requiring abortion clinics providing chemical abortifacients to have a contract with another physician with admitting privileges at a local hospital who agrees to handle any complications.
Planned Parenthood wants the 2015 law held in abeyance while it appeals a three-judge panel’s decision in favor of the law. The full 8th Circuit said last week it would not review the decision reached by Circuit Judge Raymond Gruender of St. Louis, Chief Judge William Jay Riley of Omaha, Neb., and Senior U.S. District Judge James Gritzner of Des Moines, sitting by designation.
“In a unanimous opinion, the 8th Circuit recognized that the lower court incorrectly analyzed the law,” Attorney General Rutledge said in a statement provided to Fox News. “The injunction was vacated because Planned Parenthood failed to show that the state law is a substantial obstacle, preventing most women from having access to abortion services. This commonsense law will help ensure that medication abortions are conducted in a safe, responsible manner and with appropriate protections for women. I will continue to defend Act 577 as Planned Parenthood continues its challenge.”
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In a statement, Aaron Samulcek, interim president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains (PPGP), said, “This is not over. We’re continuing to serve our patients in Little Rock and Fayetteville while we do everything in our power to protect their access to care.”
LifeNews.com Note: Dave Andrusko is the editor of National Right to Life News and an author and editor of several books on abortion topics. This post originally appeared in at National Right to Life News Today —- an online column on pro-life issues.
