Arizona Appeals Court lifts injunction on abortion regulations

Governor Jan Brewer: "This is a great day for Arizona women and parents."

Statement by Governor Brewer: “This is a great day for Arizona women and parents.

The 2009 Abortion Consent Act empowers women by giving them the objective information they need prior to deciding whether to have an abortion. Women deserve all the facts from their physician, in-person, before making such a critical decision. Today’s court decision will help guarantee that. 

“The Act also empowers parents by strengthening Arizona’s parental consent laws. Now, in most cases, any minor seeking an abortion must first obtain a notarized statement of parental consent. Effective parental consent is a fundamental principle that Arizonans on both sides of the abortion debate can support. Today’s ruling will also protect women’s health and safety by requiring that surgical abortions be performed by a physician.

“These are common sense regulations that will help protect Arizona families, and I’m thrilled the Court has allowed the law to take effect as intended.”

PHOENIX -- On Thursday, August 11, the Arizona Court of Appeals, in a 3-0 decision,  lifted an injunction against the  Abortion Consent Act, signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer in 2009, thus making it a requirement for a minor child to get a parent's consent before having an abortion.

 

The law was challenged by Planned Parenthood and an injunction against it was issued in Superior Court after the group filed suit.

 

The law also requires that a pregnant woman seeking an abortion first receive counseling from a doctor at least 24 hours before the proceedure can be performed and allows doctors to refuse to perform an abortion if they have religious or moral objections.