Abortion in Arizona

Abortion in Arizona

Introduction

Abortion is the deliberate termination of a pregnancy. This procedure generally occurs through one of three methods: “Morning after pills” can prevent implantation of a fertilized egg; during the first trimester, drugs such as RU486 or mifepristone can cause spontaneous abortions; or a surgical procedure can remove a fetus from the womb (Alan Guttmacher Institute, pp. 56-58.). The debate over abortion is polarized, with the most vocal advocates, both for and against, tending to assume extreme positions in the belief that they are enunciating a principle that allows for no compromise.

What Is The Current Legalization Of Abortion in Arizona?

Maricopa Superior Court judge has granted a preliminary injunction against new state laws that place restrictions on abortion. Judge Donald Daughton issued the injunction one day before the laws were set to take effect. The laws that were challenged were created by legislation enacted earlier this year - S1175 and H2564 (Alan Guttmacher Institute, pp. 8-91).

The judge ruled that Planned Parenthood Arizona, which filed suit to challenge two laws enacted during the 2009 legislative session, has established that it has a strong likelihood of success on the merits and that there is a possibility of irreparable injury if the law were allowed to take effect on Sept. 30. The court blocked the enforcement of S1175, which prohibits those who are not physicians from performing surgical abortions, and key provisions of H2564, which requires certain information to be provided to a woman orally and in person as opposed to getting the information by telephone or other means.

Under the enacted legislation, women seeking abortion must be provided with information about the immediate and long-term medical risks associated with abortion, alternatives to the procedure, and the probable gestational age of the unborn child at the time the abortion is to be performed. Also halted was a requirement that the information be given by the physician who is to perform the abortion or the referring physician as opposed to a qualified staff member (Mohr, pp. 111).

Additionally, the court blocked a section of legislation that was intended to set into statute that any employee of an abortion facility is not required to facilitate the procedure. The same section permits any employee of a pharmacy (Mohr, pp. 98), hospital, or health professional who objects in writing to abortion on moral or religious grounds to be free from any requirement to facilitate or participate in abortion, ...