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Planned Parenthood, ACLU Cheer Ruling Halting Ultrasound Rule

By Brandon Smith, IPB News | Published on in Health, Politics, Statewide News
(From left) ACLU of Indiana attorney Gavin Rose, ACLU of Indiana Legal Director Ken Falk and Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky CEO Betty Cockrum hail a federal court ruling halting a provision from 2016's controversial anti-abortion law. (Brandon Smith/IPB News)
(From left) ACLU of Indiana attorney Gavin Rose, ACLU of Indiana Legal Director Ken Falk and Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky CEO Betty Cockrum hail a federal court ruling halting a provision from 2016's controversial anti-abortion law. (Brandon Smith/IPB News)

Women in Indiana no longer have to wait at least 18 hours between an ultrasound and an abortion after a recent court ruling halting part of last year’s controversial abortion law.

Prior to the 2016 Indiana anti-abortion law, women could get an ultrasound in the same visit as their abortion. Last year’s legislation required the ultrasound at least 18 hours before the abortion, meaning – as Planned Parenthood argued – that women would have to make two separate, often lengthy, trips to one of the few clinics that perform abortions.

A federal judge halted that provision in what ACLU of Indiana legal director Ken Falk calls a “strong” decision.

“We produced facts to show how this is hurting Planned Parenthood. The state, according to the court – and of course according to us – did not produce any facts to justify this additional restriction,” Falk says.

The state can appeal the judge’s decision.

In a statement, Indiana Right to Life calls the judge’s ruling “sadly predictable.” It accuses Planned Parenthood of opposing the 18-hour ultrasound requirement for financial reasons.

Separate parts of last year’s abortion law – provisions banning abortions performed because of the fetus’ characteristics and potential disability and requiring medical facilities to bury or cremate fetal remains – were halted by a previous ruling.