Planned Parenthood Files Lawsuit Against Anti-Abortion Initiative

A St Louis woman, represented by Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region lawyers, filed a lawsuit this week seeking to prevent a petition drive to place an anti-abortion initiative on the November 2008 Missouri ballot. The Attorneys argued that the proposed initiative is unconstitutional, as it would effectively ban most abortions in the state and thus violate a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion, reports the Associated Press.

If passed, the proposed initiative would require doctors to extensively review any so-called medical literature on abortion and investigate each patient’s background and lifestyle. Doctors would be obligated to certify that the abortion was necessary to avoid either the patient’s death or prevent permanent disability. Even abortions to save a women’s life would be subject to a 48-hour waiting period. The proposed initiative would subject doctors to lawsuits from women who later regretted their decision to terminate a pregnancy, and would offer no exception whatsoever for the victims of rape or incest.

"We will do everything we can to see that this does not go on the ballot," said Paula Gianino, President of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis region in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "If it does move forward, we will inform every citizen how dangerous and extreme this initiative is."

Media Resources: St. Louis Post-Dispatch 12/18/07; Associated Press 12/18/07; Feminist Daily Newswire 12/13/07

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