Planned Parenthood to limit abortions in Tucson, other sites

[Casino67]

Arizona Daily Star:

GLENDALE — Stung by last week's appellate court ruling, Planned Parenthood will no longer offer abortions at seven of its 10 Arizona locations.

Bryan Howard, president of the organization, said the decision, effective Friday, involves more than just complying with the court's ruling that a variety of restrictions placed on abortion providers by lawmakers in 2009 are legal. That includes a 24-hour waiting period on abortions and a requirement that surgical abortions be performed only by a doctor.

He said the ruling, if upheld, undermines efforts by Planned Parenthood to fight an even broader curb on the practice enacted just this year: a ban on specially trained nurse practitioners from offering even non-surgical abortions. So Planned Parenthood is dropping its legal bid to bar the state from enforcing that law.
The net result, Howard said today, is both surgical and medical abortions from Planned Parenthood will be available only at its locations in Glendale, Tempe and one of its Tucson sites.There will be no more abortions in Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott Valley, Goodyear, Chandler or at some locations in Phoenix and Tucson.

He said, though, all the sites will remain open for other services, including family planning, which Howard said becomes more important than ever with the curbs.

Howard said, though, that Planned Parenthood will continue with its legal challenges to both the 2009 and 2011 laws.

//End//