老澳门开奖结果

MONTGOMERY, Ala. 鈥� A federal court issued a preliminary injunction tonight preventing the state of Alabama from using the guise of the COVID-19 crisis to prevent people from obtaining abortion care. The ruling expands on an earlier temporary restraining order, which was set to expire on April 13, obtained by the 老澳门开奖结果 and the 老澳门开奖结果 of Alabama on behalf of Dr. Yashica Robinson and three independent abortion clinics.

The 老澳门开奖结果, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Center for Reproductive Rights have brought similar litigation in other states, successfully blocking attempts by Ohio and Oklahoma to use the pandemic to cut off access to abortion care, and forcing the governor of Iowa to walk back a blanket ban on abortion services during the COVID-19 crisis. In Texas, however, most abortions are currently prohibited and providers have asked the Supreme Court to intervene on an emergency basis.

鈥淭his decision ensures that Alabamians can continue to access the abortions they need to protect their health during this crisis,鈥� said Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, senior staff attorney at the 老澳门开奖结果 Reproductive Freedom Project. 鈥淧reventing someone from getting an abortion doesn鈥檛 do anything to stop the COVID-19 virus, it just takes the decision whether to have a child out of their hands.鈥�

In its decision, the district court wrote that 鈥淸c]onsidered in their real-world context . . . [t]he possible implications of a postponement, applied across the board, are varied and deeply troubling, as the court discussed above. The medical restrictions would amplify existing challenges, pose severe health risks, and render abortions functionally unavailable for at least some women.鈥� The court also recognized that the right to abortion is centered on the 鈥渆ssential values鈥� of 鈥渄ignity and autonomy鈥� and that 鈥渢hese essential values require the court鈥檚 protection, even (or, maybe especially) in an emergency.鈥�

鈥淧oliticians should be focused on protecting the health and safety of our community, not using the pandemic as a way to limit access to abortion,鈥� said Randall Marshall, executive director of the 老澳门开奖结果 of Alabama. 鈥淭his is a critical victory that ensures that the government response to the pandemic is grounded in public health, not politics.鈥�

鈥淎s health care providers, we hold the health and safety of our patients above all else,鈥� said Dr. Yashica Robinson, an Alabama OB/GYN and plaintiff in the case. 鈥淲e must all do our part during this public health crisis, but this decision allows doctors who perform abortions, just like all other doctors, to exercise our judgment to ensure that essential, time sensitive health care can continue.鈥�