Abortionists in Kansas filed a legal challenge against a state law that requires women to give the reasons why they are seeking an abortion.
The complaint targets HB 2749, a new law that asks women to choose one of 11 possible reasons for an abortion, with the requirement that “each patient shall be asked, prior to the termination of such patient’s pregnancy, which of the following reasons was the most important factor in such patient’s decision to seek an abortion.” Women will also be asked whether or not they have been raped or suffered domestic abuse, whether they have sought help from a nonprofit like a pregnancy resource center, and if they have stable housing. They can choose to decline to answer the questions.
“The decision to have an abortion is deeply personal — no one should be forced to tell the government why they are making that decision,” said Alice Wang, an attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a statement. “It’s frankly frightening that the state of Kansas is attempting to collect this type of private information, and unclear how it will be used. We are committed to protecting the privacy and constitutional rights of Kansans and people fleeing states where abortion is banned.”
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Rep. Brenda Landwehr, chair of the House health committee, said the law is intended to help the state understand why women are seeking abortion. “We did ask for additional reporting, but nothing that restricts or causes a woman not to have access or the ability to [have an] abortion,” she said. “I think we need to know why it is that women are having abortions so that we can help them. If they want to carry that baby to term, that we make sure that they have access to any services that they can.”
The legal challenge is being added to an existing lawsuit, which is challenging several of the state’s previous protections for preborn children, including a law requiring abortionists to share information about abortion pill reversal, and a 24-hour waiting period mandate.
