Planned Parenthood is suing the state of Idaho in an attempt to invalidate its ban on telemed abortions.
Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands contends that the law, which prohibits so-called “webcam” abortions in which doctors do not have to be physically present when a woman takes an abortion-inducing drug, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment.
“The ban, therefore, will force some women to seek abortions later in pregnancy, will force others to travel further to access abortion which will result in delay and increased medical risk,” the lawsuit states.
Telemed abortions are controversial because they run counter to the Food and Drug Administration’s protocol for dispensing mifepristone and misprostol, and because pro-lifers argue that doctors who are not physically present are not in a position to promptly address possible complications from the abortifacients, such as internal bleeding and hemorrhaging.
The Idaho Attorney General’s office did not comment on the lawsuit except to say it was still reviewing it.
