Summary: Abortion providers no longer are required to have privileges at local hospitals in order to perform the procedure.
Wisconsin required doctors that perform abortions to have privileges at a hospital within 30 miles. This law has been ruled as unconstitutional by the U.S. appeals court.
Abortion providers in Wisconsin challenged the state law, claiming it served no public health value and was aimed at shutting down clinics. Supporters believed the law ensured a continuation of care. Ultimately, the courts sided with the providers.
In March a federal judge had blocked the law, citing that any health benefits were outweighed by the restrictions patients would face for access to proper women’s health services. The 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the blockage, saying the right to abortion cannot withstand challenges without evidence justifying the benefits. They claimed this evidence was nonexistent in the case supporting the Wisconsin law.
This case comes on the tails of the U.S. Supreme Courts entrance into the debate. Earlier this month, they decide to take a similar case in Texas where abortion providers are also required to have admitting privileges and hospital-grade surgical facilities.
It has been over four decades since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortions but it still remains a hot topic. States have been given some allowance to set their own restrictions such as requiring parental consent with minors. However, with the recent video footage of Planned Parenthood’s business practice around the procedure, the topic is set to be a big one that the Supreme Court will have to settle again.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-appeals-court-rules-against-wisconsin-abortion-doctor-000815313.html
Photo: nbc15.com