Arizona court clears way for abortion restrictions

An Arizona appeals court ruled Thursday to allow key parts of a state law restricting abortions to take effect, including one that requires women to see a doctor in person the day before getting an abortion to hear about risks and alternatives.

The provisions have been on hold for two years after a state judge blocked them from taking effect in 2009.

But the Arizona Court of Appeals on Thursday ordered the judge to lift his hold, saying the provisions are constitutional and don’t put undue burdens on women seeking to end their pregnancies.

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“If this law takes effect in its entirety, it will put women in Arizona in harm’s way. Period. End of story,” said Bryan Howard, president of Planned Parenthood of Arizona.