Federal Appeals Court Upholds Decision Blocking Wisconsin Abortion Law

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CHICAGO – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit today upheld a lower court’s decision blocking a Wisconsin law that singles out doctors who provide abortions for medically unnecessary restrictions. A challenge to the law was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.

"We’re glad that the court has prevented this law from taking effect," said Larry Dupuis, legal director of the ACLU of Wisconsin. "These kinds of decisions should only be made by a woman, her family and her doctor. Politicians should have no place in the complicated and personal decision about whether or not to end a pregnancy."

Doctors and leading medical groups, such as the American Medical Association, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Wisconsin Public Health Association, have opposed such requirements because they are unnecessary for the provision of safe, high-quality health care, and because they prevent women from getting necessary services. Wisconsin law does not require doctors providing surgery at other health centers to have admitting privileges even for more complicated procedures.

"Across the country, extremist politicians are trying to shut down women’s health centers and make it more and more difficult for women to access abortion care," said Talcott Camp, deputy director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. "These laws have nothing to do with women’s health and are designed to unfairly target medical professionals who provide safe and legal abortions."