Utah's abortion clinic ban is now facing implementation blockage as Planned Parenthood and the ACLU are fighting back.
The state of Utah is facing a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) due to a law that would practically prohibit abortion clinics from functioning in the state. The law, set to take effect on May 3, would eliminate the licensing process for abortion clinics and require abortions to be performed in hospitals, which could dramatically reduce access to treatment.
Roughly 95% of abortions in Utah are provided at clinics, and the law's opponents argue that it violates the state constitution's rights to privacy and bodily integrity.
Blocking Utah's Abortion Clinic Ban
According to Reuters, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU have taken legal action against Utah by filing a lawsuit in the Third Judicial District Court located in Salt Lake City, asking a judge to prevent the law from being enacted.
The legal challenge seeks to delay the implementation of the law until it is proven legal.
Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, signed the bill into law last month after it passed through the Republican-led statehouse, where supporters believed that abortion clinics would no longer require licenses if courts restricted abortions to only exceptional and emergency circumstances.
However, the signing of the law caused confusion among prospective patients, hospitals, and clinics that are already managing various overlapping trigger laws and legal challenges in Utah.
Starting on May 3, the law will prohibit abortion clinics from applying for licenses, and it will lead to a full ban on January 1, 2024, by stripping all clinics of their licenses.
During a news conference, Sarah Stoesz, the president-CEO of Utah's Planned Parenthood affiliate, mentioned that the law would not simply transfer care to hospitals, as some politicians have claimed, according to the Associated Press.
Instead, it would essentially eliminate abortion access in Utah, endangering people's health and lives.
She added that there are no realistic alternative locations for Utahns to continue to get this really essential health care.
Planned Parenthood attorney Hannah Swanson expressed concern about sections of the 1,446-line bill that they believe make providing abortions a crime on May 3.
Swanson adds that confusing licensing provisions would force clinics to stop providing abortions on that date unless the court intervenes.
State officials have said clinic licenses will remain until that time, but Republican lawmakers have said that Planned Parenthood's claims about the legislation were inaccurate.
Impact on Abortion Rights
According to Axios, should this ban be implemented, it will generate immense barriers for individuals seeking medical assistance.
Utah's abortion clinic ban is just one of several restrictive abortion laws that have been introduced in states across the US in recent years.
Planned Parenthood and the ACLU's lawsuit is just one of many legal challenges to these restrictive abortion laws. The outcome of these cases will significantly impact the future of abortion rights in the US.
The lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU against Utah's abortion clinic ban is an important step in fighting for women's reproductive rights.
By challenging the law's constitutionality, the organizations are standing up for women's rights to make decisions about their own bodies and access essential healthcare.
This legal challenge is a testament to the work that both organizations do to protect and advance reproductive rights and access to care for all individuals.
Their efforts in this lawsuit demonstrate their commitment to ensuring everyone can access safe and legal abortion care, regardless of where they live.
