Arizona doctors want repealed abortion law to immediately take effect

(8 May 2024)

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Phoenix – 2 May 2024
1. Governor Katie Hobbs signing repeal

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Phoenix - 8 May 2024
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Cadey Harrel, Physician:
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“Without that emergency clause, the repeal won't take effect until 90 days after the legislature adjourns for the year, which has yet to be determined. This means the law could be in effect through the end of September, meaning that pregnant patients will not be able to access abortion care in the state for possibly numerous months. They'll be forced to flee the state for care if they have the financial and socioeconomic ability to do so. However, if they don't, they'll be forced to remain pregnant even if they're suffering pregnancy complications with their lives at risk. Or are survivors of rape, incest, or human trafficking.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Phoenix - 2 May 2024
3. Exterior executive tower

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Phoenix - 8 May 2024
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Cadey Harrel, Physician:
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“We must enshrine access to abortion in the Arizona State Constitution by adopting the Arizona for Abortion Access Act. Health decisions belong in the hands of patients, their trusted physicians, and their families, and not in the hands of politicians.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Phoenix - 2 May 2024
5. US and Arizona flags on desk by House bill 2677
6. Arizona state seal
7. Arizona state flag seen through window

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Phoenix - 8 May 2024
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Atsuko Koyama, Physician:
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“ We can't forget that when finally repealed, we will go back to the 15 week abortion ban. And like the 1864 ban, this ban has no exceptions for survivors of rape or incest or the health of the pregnant person. Abortions are only permitted for medical emergencies. But medicine isn't always black and white, especially when it comes to emergencies. In a vague medical emergency exception like the one in Arizona's 15 week ban and total ban forces doctors to ask, is this patient close enough to death to intervene? How sick does my patient have to become before I can take the action I know will help save the health future for fertility and life.”

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STORYLINE:
Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has relegated a Civil War-era ban on most abortions to the past by signing a bill last week to repeal it.

Hobbs said the move is just the beginning of a fight to protect reproductive health care in Arizona. The repeal of the 1864 law that the state Supreme Court recently reinstated won’t take effect until 90 days after the legislative session ends, which typically happens in June or July.

Some Arizona doctors say the ban will harm patients until the repeal takes effect. They’re calling for the passage of the Arizona Abortion Access Act.

“Without that emergency clause, the repeal won't take effect until 90 days after the legislature adjourns for the year, which has yet to be determined. This means the law could be in effect through the end of September, meaning that pregnant patients will not be able to access abortion care in the state for possibly numerous months,” Dr. Cadey Harrel, a family physician and Arizona Lead for the Committee to Protect Health Care said.

“They'll be forced to flee the state for care if they have the financial and socioeconomic ability to do so. However, if they don't, they'll be forced to remain pregnant even if they're suffering pregnancy complications with their lives at risk. Or are survivors of rape, incest, or human trafficking.”




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