Rutledge evaluating abortion ruling's impact on Arkansas

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is shown in this photo.
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is shown in this photo.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is evaluating how a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down a Texas abortion law will affect a lawsuit over Arkansas' restrictions on how the abortion pill is administered, the Republican said Monday.

Rutledge also criticized the ruling, which struck down Texas' requirement that doctors who perform abortions have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and that clinics meet hospital-like standards for outpatient surgery. Justices rejected Texas' argument that its law and follow-up regulations were needed to protect women's health.

Rutledge says she's analyzing the decision to see whether it will affect Planned Parenthood of the Heartland's challenge to an Arkansas law that requires doctors providing the abortion pill to maintain a contract with another physician with admitting privileges at a hospital who agrees to handle any complications. Arkansas is appealing a federal judge's decision temporarily blocking that law's enforcement.

"The Court has issued a decision that makes it even more challenging for a state to provide common sense health and safety regulations for abortion procedures," Rutledge said in a prepared statement.

Planned Parenthood in April asked to amend the lawsuit, including dropping a challenge to a law requiring abortion pill providers to follow U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines because the FDA has changed those to mostly align with Planned Parenthood's current practices.

Planned Parenthood praised the ruling and said it was also reviewing the ruling to see the impact it would have on Arkansas' restrictions.

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