Judge Grants Injunction On State Abortion Law
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- Category: News
- Created on Thursday, 04 November 2021 00:13
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By BECKY BOHRER
The Associated Press
JUNEAU (AP) — A state court judge has granted a request to allow advanced practice clinicians in Alaska to provide medication abortion while an underlying legal case proceeds.
Superior Court Judge Josie Garton, in a written order Tuesday, said Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky “has shown that it is likely to succeed on the merits of its claim that prohibiting advanced practice clinicians from providing medication abortion violates patients’ right to privacy under the Alaska Constitution by significantly restricting the availability of abortions in this state without sufficient justification.”
“The law also likely violates patients’ right to equal protection, since it prevents patients seeking abortions from receiving care from advanced practice clinicians that patients experiencing miscarriage may receive from the same providers,” Garton wrote.
The ruling came on an injunction request by Planned Parenthood, which sued nearly two years ago to challenge a state law that dates back decades and limits who can perform abortions. The group also said the Alaska Board of Nursing had rejected requests for advanced practice clinicians to provide aspiration procedures to treat miscarriages.
The case is set for trial in July, where Planned Parenthood “will seek to make this ruling permanent and further expand access for qualified health care professionals to provide not only medication abortion but other safe, early abortion and miscarriage care,” the organization said in a statement.
The injunction sought by the group earlier this year and granted by Garton is to allow advanced practice clinicians to provide medication abortions. That category includes advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants, attorneys for the group said in court documents.
Aaron Sadler, a spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Law, said the department plans “to proceed with the case and defend the statute,” which he said was enacted in 1970. Department attorneys are representing the state in the case.
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AK COVID-19
At a Glance
(updated 5-30-2023)
By Sentinel Staff
The state Department of Health and Social Services has posted the following update on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Alaska as of 12:15 pm Tuesday, May 30.
New cases as of Tuesday: 165
Total cases (cumulative) statewide – 298,078
Total (cumulative) deaths – 1,468
Case Rate per 100,000 – 22.64
To visit the Alaska DHSS Corona Response dashboard website click here.
COVID in Sitka
The Sitka community level is now "Low.'' Case statistics are as of Tuesday.
Case Rate/100,000 – 58.70
Cases in last 7 days – 5
Cumulative Sitka cases – 3,424
Deceased (cumulative) – 10
The local case data are from Alaska DHSS.
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June 2003
After taking an opening-day lead in the Sitka Salmon Derby last Saturday, Mike Bagley wondered how long his 47.6-pound king salmon would remain the top fish. When the derby closed Sunday night, Bagley was declared the winner. ... Kathy Miller was runner-up with a 45.7-pound fish; Craig Taylor third with a 43.6 pounder; and Joe Mudry fourth at 40 pounds.
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June 1973
Some 35 high-ranking foreign diplomats will be in Sitka Saturday, part of a statewide tour. ... The New Archangel Dancers will perform for the group at the Centennial Building.
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