Repro Roundup: Iowa judge blocks 24-hour waiting period one day before it goes into effect

Welcome to my column, The Repro Roundup, in which I summarize abortion news happening around the country, why it matters, and what you can do about it — in 250 words or less.

What’s the issue? Just one day before it was set to become law, a judge blocked a 24-hour waiting period in Iowa, according to a local NBC report. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bill on Monday but a state court judge issued an injunction until a court can determine whether or not the law is constitutional due to the way that it was passed: in the middle of the night without public debate. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland filed the lawsuit. The Iowa Supreme Court struck down a 72-hour waiting period in 2018.

Why does this matter? Aside from the fact that passing an abortion restriction in the middle of the night with no public input is clearly sneaky, wrong, and anti-Democratic, waiting periods for abortions are particularly cruel. Waiting periods for any amount of time are specifically designed to dissuade patients from obtaining abortion care. The consequence is that patients are forced to take more time off work, arrange for childcare, find lodging, pay extra for meals, and transportation to and from the clinic. In some circumstances, if the pregnancy is allowed to advance, the procedure can be more expensive. In the worst cases, the pregnant person will surpass the legal gestational limit. Plus, what is typically required with waiting periods is biased, false information that the physician has to give to the patient, along with an unnecessary ultrasound. The patient usually has to meet with the same physician at the end of the waiting period, and if the physician is sick or unable to make it to the clinic, the waiting period has to start again — often making it impossible for the patient to receive care.

What action can I take?

• Learn more about the harms of waiting periods and counseling from Guttmacher
• Read more about abortion laws in Iowa from Guttmacher
• Donate to the Iowa Abortion Access Fund
• Donate to the Emma Goldman Clinic, a provider that not only does abortions but trans-affirming care, general gynecological wellness, contraception, and more. Plus, check out their awesome merch
• Clinic escort with Planned Parenthood North Central States

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