GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Wisconsin’s state abortion laws are being challenged.
A lawsuit has been filed by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin as they look to overturn a number of laws.
Tanya Atkinson, the Executive Director for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, says they are suing on three different provisions.
“So women who are choosing abortions can get the care they need with a more patient-centered approach and not so many unnecessary barriers,” explains Atkinson.
The first law being challenged limits the class of medical professionals who can perform abortions and the other two provisions require women to see the same doctor twice before receiving an abortion, according to Atkinson.
Additionally, the doctor must be in the room when the abortion drug is taken.
“They’re unconstitutional and they’re not based on any patient health, safety and meant to block healthcare for women,” she says.
While others think the laws are in place for good reason.
“This is the killing of an unborn child,” explains Heather Weiniger, the Executive Director of Wisconsin Right to Life. “Complications can arise after this, sometimes an abortion isn’t complete, they need care.”
She believes the nonprofit organization is suing in order to expand their business in the state, which currently amounts to four abortion clinics across Wisconsin.
“They admittedly state in their lawsuit that they can’t expand their business because doctors aren’t willing to perform abortions,” she says. “So by overturning these laws, this opens the door for them to expand their business.”
Weiniger believes the endorsements Attorney General Josh Kaul received from Planned Parenthood during campaign shows a clear conflict of interest.
Planned Parenthood not only provides abortion services, but also reproductive health care, education, and screenings.
A recent report from the State Department of Health Services on the number of abortions performed in Wisconsin during 2017 can be found here.
