June 25, 2020

Planned Parenthood Sues to Block Iowa 24-Hour Wait Period

Photo Credit: bloomsberries / Flickr
On June 23, Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit against the state of Iowa to block legislation that would require a woman to have a 24-hour wait period after her first appointment to consider her decision to abort. The law, which passed on June 14, created this waiting period to make women consider the decision carefully and not impulsively end an unborn life.

“The waiting period would force women to go to an extra appointment before receiving an abortion. That is medically unnecessary and could take several extra days or even weeks,” said Erin Davison-Rippey, Planned Parenthood’s Iowa executive director.

The bill requires this additional appointment so that the abortion clinic can provide materials such as ultrasound images of the unborn child and a description of other life-affirming options such as adoption.

Rep. Shannon Lundgren pointed out on the floor of the Iowa House of Representatives that there are several other situations in which Iowa law mandates waiting periods for important decisions. A family must wait three days after their child is born to place the child for adoption, and 90 days must pass after a divorce decree is served for a marriage to be officially dissolved.