By Aaron Earls
In a blow to abortion rights advocates, the U.S. Supreme Court today declined to hear a case involving the RU-486 abortion pill.
Planned Parenthood had sued to block an Arkansas law that set regulations on the use of RU-486. With no dissents, the U.S. Supreme Court opted not to review an appeals court’s decision upholding the restrictions.
The 2015 law says any doctor who “gives, sells, dispenses, administers, or otherwise provides or proscribes the abortion-inducing drug” must have a contract with a physician who has admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.
After Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit, a lower court blocked the bill from taking effect. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that order, according to Fox News, but placed the ruling on hold while Planned Parenthood appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
According to CNN, lawyers for Arkansas say the law is a “commonsense requirement” that “merely requires medication abortion providers to have a contractual relationship (to ensure follow-up treatment if needed) with a physician that has admitting privileges.”
Planned Parenthood has said the regulations could lead to the closing of two of its three abortion clinics in Arkansas, according to Reuters. The abortion provider said it can provide medication abortion only at its clinic in Little Rock.
Dawn Laguens, Planned Parenthood’s executive vice president, will immediately ask a federal judge to reimpose the injunction blocking the law.
The Supreme Court order made no ruling on the constitutionality of the law, but it would allow the law to take effect in mid-July unless Planned Parenthood is able to block it again in U.S. district court.
Related:
- White House to Cut Planned Parenthood Funding
- 5 Ways to be a Practical Pro-Life Champion in Your Church
- Mississippi Approves Most Pro-Life Bill in the U.S.
- Supreme Court to Hear Case on Pro-Life Speech
AARON EARLS (@WardrobeDoor) is online editor of Facts & Trends.
