A federal judge extended his restraining order on Abortion Pill Restriction Law in Arkansas until March 14 last Monday. The restraining order was set to expire this Thursday so the lawyers for the state and Planned Parenthood of the Heartland had requested U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker to prolong her Dec. 31 restraining order.
Arkansas News reported that Baker issued the restraining order in a challenge to the law by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. Dr. Stephanie Ho who manages abortion pills for the nonprofit health care provider claimed that the law restricts women's right. The law would undeservedly burden women's right for abortion said one of the two abortion providers operating in Arkansas. Time will be given to both sides of the case as the restraining order was extended. Preparation was given for the briefs of both pro and against an initial injunction that would stop the law from being required.
Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit on Monday against portions of Act 577 (also known as the "Abortion-Inducing Drugs Safety Act"), stated Arkansas Matters. They wanted to block two portions of the law. First, the section of Act 577 Planned Parenthood seeks to block is 1504(d), which necessitates all physicians who offer medication abortion to have a signed contract with another physician who agrees to handle complications and emergencies. The second, they wanted to block 1504(a). It requires medical abortions to use an "inferior, outdated protocol" that is on the final printed labelling for the medication.
According to AP, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he hoped the court would uphold the law because it protects the safety of the women. He was also the one who signed the bill into a law. He also said that Planned Parenthood thinks of welfare of abortion providers rather than the safety and health of women.
If the law will be enforced, it will be hard to give abortion via pill, claimed the complainants. However, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Gov. Asa Hutchinson, both of whom are against abortion, have said the law would protect women's health.
