Politics & Government

Planned Parenthood Cancels Abortions, Uncertain About The AZ Law

Arizona has an abortion ban on the books that dates back more than a century, but it's unclear if the state will begin enforcing it.

Patients at Family Planning Associates in Phoenix who had already received abortions prior to the Supreme Court decision are advised to continue attending any follow up appointments.
Patients at Family Planning Associates in Phoenix who had already received abortions prior to the Supreme Court decision are advised to continue attending any follow up appointments. (Shutterstock)

PHOENIX, AZ β€” Planned Parenthood Arizona, along with at least one independent Phoenix abortion clinic temporarily suspended all abortions on Friday because of uncertainty over the law in Arizona, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.

"Due to the Supreme Court decision in Jackson Women’s Health Organization v. Dobbs, we will be temporarily suspending all abortion services at Family Planning Associates while we assess the continued legality of abortion in Arizona," the clinic said in a message posted on its website. "All abortion appointments will be cancelled until further notice."

Planned Parenthood of Arizona posted the following message on its website: "The Supreme Court of the United States has given individual states the right to determine their own abortion law. Because the legal landscape is complex, PPAZ will discontinue Abortion Services at this time to protect our staff and patients."

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The Supreme Court decision, authored by Justice Samuel Alito Jr., was released more than a month after a draft of the opinion leaked. Although the ruling on the Dobbs case was 6-3, the decision to strike down Roe and Casey was 5-4, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing a concurring opinion that said overturning the landmark statute went too far.

Arizona is one of five states with abortion laws on the books that predate the landmark 1973 Roe decision. It's unclear if the state will begin enforcing the more than 100-year-old law now that the right to abortion has been revoked at the federal level.

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Arizona's abortion ban dates back to 1901, before Arizona was a state. The law was blocked by Roe v. Wade but could become enforceable again now that the decision has been overturned. That law bans abortions except when they are necessary to save the mother's life.

The striking down of Roe will also mean that In Arizona, a ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, signed into state law in March, will likely take effect this fall.


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