Gov. Scott Walker has signed a bill into law that places additional conditions on abortions in Wisconsin.
The law requires women to have an ultrasound before obtaining an abortion. The person performing the ultrasound is required to point out the fetus’ features to the woman.
In addition, the doctor who performs the abortion must have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles. Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin says the law will result in the closure of two facilities that provide abortions, and will decrease capacity by at least 50 percent in one of the two facilities that will remain.
After Walker signed the bill on Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin filed a federal lawsuit challenging the law. They say it “places medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion providers that would severely restrict women’s access to safe and legal abortion.”
