Government
Fla. Supreme Court hears abortion lawsuit arguments
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 24, 2005
The dispute over a 1997 Florida law requiring physicians to inform patients about abortion risks has reached the state's Supreme Court. Justices heard oral arguments in September about the 8-year-old statute, which has never been enforced due to the constitutional challenge.
Lawyers for an abortion clinic and one of its physicians said the law's vague language violates doctors' due process rights. They also said the law, called the Woman's Right to Know Act, would deny women fundamental rights by making it more difficult to get an abortion. Trial and appellate courts have ruled in the clinic's favor.
The state brought the appeal before the high court, arguing that the law does not infringe on women's rights and the state should have the ability to require informed consent for patients "at any stage of pregnancy."
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/10/24/gvbf1024.htm.
