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Planned Parenthood sues over Arizona abortion laws

Abortion opponents stand outside the Jackson Women's Health Organization clinic, right, while construction on a hotel, background, continues in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, April 10, 2019. The clinic is the only medical facility that performs abortions in the state. The state legislature recently passed a law that would ban most abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, meaning as early as six weeks. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Abortion opponents stand outside the Jackson Women's Health Organization clinic, right, while construction on a hotel, background, continues in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, April 10, 2019. The clinic is the only medical facility that performs abortions in the state. The state legislature recently passed a law that would ban most abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, meaning as early as six weeks. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Abortion opponents stand outside the Jackson Women's Health Organization clinic, right, while construction on a hotel, background, continues in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, April 10, 2019. The clinic is the only medical facility that performs abortions in the state. The state legislature recently passed a law that would ban most abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, meaning as early as six weeks. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

By Associated Press 3 min read

PHOENIX (AP) – Abortion rights groups filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging Arizona laws they say unnecessarily restrict access to the procedures and leave most rural areas without clinics.

The legal action by Planned Parenthood Arizona targets laws that prohibit anyone other than a physician from performing abortions; require patients to visit clinics twice over a 24-hour period for counseling; and bar the use of telemedicine in providing abortion services.

The intent of the laws is to “impede both women and medical providers so systematically that abortion becomes more onerous and even unavailable to many,” according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit says the statutes have led to a 40% reduction in the number of abortions provided by Planned Parenthood since 2011.

In addition, the laws are medically unjustified and have led to the closure of Planned Parenthood offices in Yuma, Goodyear, Prescott Valley and Chandler, the lawsuit states.