A Kansas District Court on Aug. 8 will hear arguments challenging abortion laws that require women to be informed.
On Aug. 8 a district court in Kansas will consider what information abortion providers should be required to provide patients seeking chemical abortions, or late-term abortions. The lawsuit, brought by pro-abortion plaintiffs, both new state regulations on chemical abortion providers and a longstanding requirement that patients wait 24 hours after first seeing a provider before having an abortion.
The state’s mandatory waiting period originated in 1997 with its enactment of the Woman’s Right to Know Act. In April, legislators amended the law to include a new requirement that abortion providers display signage notifying patients that “it may be possible to reverse” the chemical abortion process.
During a chemical abortion, also known as a medication abortion, a patient is prescribed two different drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone, taken first, blocks the uterine absorption of the hormone progesterone, which is needed to maintain the pregnancy. Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract and expel the unborn child, completing the abortion. The child, which is viable during the process, is grotesquely burned in utero and experiences severe pain, according to research.
The reversal process involves taking high doses of progesterone to combat the effects of mifepristone. And while medical professionals have differed on whether abortion pill reversal is safe or effective, there have been documented cases of success.
But according to a lawsuit (pdf) filed June 6 in Kansas’ Johnson County District Court, requiring abortion providers to inform patients about the reversal process is just another means of discouraging women from having abortions.
In the filing, complainants Planned Parenthood Great Plains and other local abortion providers allege that Kansas has implemented a “Biased Counseling Scheme” to stigmatize abortion and deny women their “fundamental right” to have one.
The complaint seeks relief in the form of a declaratory judgment that the regulations in question are unconstitutional and a preliminary injunction blocking their enforcement for the time being.
The state, in its response (pdf), held that the enacted regulations ensure patients receive enough information to make an informed decision.
Additionally, the state contended that the complainants did not have standing to file the case given that they did not stand to suffer any violation of their own rights or other irreparable harm.
Abortion numbers skyrocketed in the 12 months since the abortion industry funneled millions into the state to defeat the Value Them Both Amendment. It is now the largest year-over-year increase in recorded history. In addition, abortion proponents have fueld a 117% increase in out-of-state women seeking late-term and other abortions in the state.
Through it all, abortionists lined their pockets and filled litigation war chest coffers.
“As Kansans see the reality we predicted unfolding before them, we observe this sad day by rolling up our sleeves and encouraging our members to volunteer to help serve women facing unexpected pregnancies,” said Danielle Underwood, KFL Director of Communications.
“Last August 2nd, we promised we would continue to expose the lies of the profit-driven abortion industry and that we will never abandon women and babies. That is why we are turning a sad anniversary into a day dedicated to service that will aid women facing unplanned pregnancies: Women and Babies Wednesday.”
KFL has partnered with 20 pregnancy resource centers across the state for the August 2nd Day of Service. Photos from the Day of Service will be made available on our social media channels throughout the day.
“The Woman’s Right to Know Act became law in 1997 with the help of Kansans for Life and has since been amended five times. All Plaintiffs concede they have complied with the Act for years. Their ability to comply with the Act for decades and their delay in bringing this suit foreclose emergency relief here,” the state argued.
After Planned Parenthood filed the complaint, the Kansas state’s democrat leaders agreed not to enforce the new medication abortion law until the court reached a decision on a preliminary injunction.
At Tuesday’s hearing, scheduled for 2 p.m., District Judge K. Christopher Jayaram will hear arguments from both sides on whether the new and existing regulations should be blocked.
The challenges come as more states pass pro-life legislation amidst an environment of legal challenges.
–Metro Voice and wires services
