Judge Puts Parts of New Kansas Abortion Law on Hold
A Kansas judge on Friday temporarily blocked a new abortion restriction that providers said would make it nearly impossible for a woman to obtain the procedure in an emergency and another requiring them to tell women that disputed assertions about fetal development and abortions are accurate and objective.
Shawnee County District Judge Rebecca Crotty refused to block other portions of the law that ban sex-selection abortions, block tax breaks for abortion providers and prohibits them from furnishing materials or instructors for public schools’ sexuality courses. There is also a requirement for doctors to provide information to patients that includes a statement that abortion ends the life of “whole, separate, unique, living human being.”
The judge ruled in a lawsuit filed by Dr. Herbert Hodes and his daughter, Dr. Traci Nauser, who perform abortions at their Overland Park health center. They asked Crotty to prevent the state from enforcing the entire law while their lawsuit proceeds.