Iowa’s law banning abortions before most women know they are pregnant will take effect Monday after a judge formally dissolved the injunction blocking its enforcement.
The law was passed last year and went into effect briefly before being blocked in response to a lawsuit filed by abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and the ACLU of Iowa.
The Iowa Supreme Court reaffirmed the law last month, saying there was no constitutional right to abortion in the state and ordered the blockade lifted.
The law prohibits abortion after fetal heart activity can be detected – usually around six weeks, which is before many women know they are pregnant. There are some exceptions for rape and incest if reported to the police or healthcare provider within a specific time period. Medical exceptions include a fetal abnormality “incompatible with life” or if the pregnancy puts the woman’s life at risk.
A district court judge said Tuesday that the law could be fully enforced starting July 29 at 8 a.m. CT, to give medical providers time to receive notice of the change. Until the law goes into effect, abortion will be legal in the state until 22 weeks of pregnancy.
Currently, 14 states have near-total bans at all stages of pregnancy, and Iowa will be one of four states that ban abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.
The law will have a ripple effect across the Midwest as people seeking abortions will have to travel greater distances and wait longer to obtain care. The closest states for Iowans would likely be Illinois, Minnesota or Nebraska, although Nebraska has a 12-week abortion ban law.
Travel is a significant barrier for low-income women, who may end up carrying a pregnancy to term, regardless of complications.
Democratic-led states that protect abortion have seen an increase in traffic since the fall of Roe v. Wade.
For example, the Chicago Abortion Fund said it received more than 60 requests for support from Iowans in just the first three weeks of July, a 165% increase from previous months, despite abortion still being legal in Iowa. .
There are only two abortion providers in Iowa, both of whom are plaintiffs in the lawsuit. The organizations said they will adapt to the new law and will not close.
Planned Parenthood North Central States said it will continue to provide abortion care under current protocols for the rest of this week and will help patients determine whether they can still receive care in Iowa or whether they must travel to different health centers in Minnesota, Nebraska or elsewhere. neighboring states.
“Anytime a patient is forced to travel across state lines to obtain essential health care it is devastating,” Ruth Richardson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said in a statement. “We are committed to doing everything we can to help patients get the care they need, which has included long-term regional investments in our Mankato [Minn.] and Omaha [Neb.] health centers. But Iowans deserve to have access to health care in their own community and in their own state.”
In a statement issued last month following the state Supreme Court ruling, the Emma Goldman Clinic said it will continue to provide abortion care “to the extent possible” and help people it cannot treat “navigate the logistics of seeking care elsewhere.” States”. .”
“The Emma Goldman Clinic isn’t going anywhere,” the organization said, and “will continue to provide life-saving and life-changing care. We know that cervical cancer screenings, gender-affirming care and wellness exams save lives.”
According to the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights research group, there will be an estimated 4,150 abortions in Iowa in 2023. But abortion care was still scarce, and Iowans drove an average of 53 minutes to the nearest clinic. next, even before the 6 week ban.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
