Federal judge extends order on Arkansas abortion pill limits

LITTLE ROCK — A federal judge has agreed to extend until March her order blocking Arkansas from enforcing new limits on the way the abortion pill is administered.

U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker on Monday granted the request by the state and Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, which is challenging the new limits. Baker had initially blocked the new law from taking effect until Thursday, and both sides had asked her to extend that order until March 14.

The new law requires abortion pill providers to follow guidelines set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The law, which was supposed to take effect Jan. 1, requires doctors providing the pill to maintain a contract with another physician with admitting privileges at a hospital who agrees to handle any complications.

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