Media Center: Press Release

“This latest ruling upholds the position that doctors, not politicians, should decide on appropriate treatment during a medical emergency.”

New York, NY—The United States Supreme Court today ordered a lower court to reconsider its ruling on a New Hampshire abortion law. In a unanimous ruling on Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, the Supreme Court affirmed that laws restricting abortion must provide protections for a woman's health. However, the Supreme Court argued that it was not necessary to block the entire law, and directed the First Circuit Court of Appeals to consider a narrower ruling.

Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, which signed an amicus brief on behalf of Planned Parenthood, lead plaintiff in the case, today issued the following statement from PRCH board chair Dr. Wendy Chavkin:

"As physicians, we are relieved that the Supreme Court has unanimously reaffirmed the requirement that abortion laws must protect women's health. This latest ruling upholds the position that doctors, not politicians, should decide on appropriate treatment during a medical emergency. Despite our relief that this longstanding precedent was reaffirmed, we are weary of going to court to fight abortion laws that do not provide exceptions for medical emergencies. Physicians have been forced into court over and over to enforce basic protections. As doctors, our first priority is to ensure our patients' health and safety, and we are confident that the First Circuit will uphold this standard when it reconsiders New Hampshire's law.”

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