Planned Parenthood announced today it will resume abortion services in Wisconsin on Monday at its clinics in Madison and Milwaukee.
It halted those services after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a 1973 ruling that guaranteed access to an abortion. That brought back an 1849 ban in Wisconsin that only allowed the procedure to save the life of the mother.
Dem AG Josh Kaul has challenged that 1849 law, and a Dane County Circuit Court judge indicated in July she doesn’t believe it applies to abortion, though the case is still ongoing, and the issue ultimately expected to land before the state Supreme Court.
Planned Parenthood President and CEO Tanya Atkinson said that law is no longer enforceable and “our staff can now provide the full scope of sexual and reproductive health care to anyone in Wisconsin who needs it, no matter what.”
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Dane County Circuit Court Judge Diane Schlipper, hearing Kaul’s suit, ruled in July “there is no such thing as an ‘1849 Abortion Ban’ in Wisconsin” and instead the law only applies to feticide. She hasn’t issued a final decision in the case, and the issue is expected to ultimately land before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Gracie Skogman, legislative director for Wisconsin Right to Life, called the move devastating for “pre-born children and women here in the state.”
“Our belief is that Planned Parenthood is putting profit over actually waiting for a final determination from the courts,” she said.
Gov. Tony Evers praised the move.
“Today’s announcement from Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin as a result of our lawsuit regarding Wisconsin’s criminal abortion ban means Wisconsinites will once again be able to access vital reproductive healthcare and abortion services without exception for the first time since June of last year,” he said. “This is critically important news for Wisconsin women and patients across our state who, for a year now, have been unable to access the healthcare they need when and where they need it.
Planned Parenthood is beginning to take appointments today for Monday’s resumption of services.
See the release here.
