Some Arizona doctors are seeking an emergency order to block the provision of a law passed last year that they claim grants the same legal rights to a fetus as all citizens.
Attorneys for the Arizona Medical Association contend the provision could subject doctors to criminal prosecution for performing abortions that are still legal despite last week’s Supreme Court Ruling.
Though Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell told Capitol Media Services she doubts the language would be used to bring criminal charges against anyone.
"I think that the clear intent of the Legislature through recent statutes or bills that they passed is to not punish the woman," Mitchell said.
Though the law was passed last year, it was eventually struck down. But the provision attached to it was allowed to remain as a federal judge said it wouldn’t be used to prosecute doctors.
