A new lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union contends that the state can’t stop “advanced practice clinicians” — like nurse practitioners — from performing abortions in Arizona.
In 2024, Arizona voters enshrined broad abortion rights in the state constitution.
The case is one of a series of lawsuits challenging specific abortion restrictions in state law before the amendment went into effect.
The ACLU argues a law that says only certain doctors can perform abortions is illegal because the amendment protects residents’ “fundamental right to abortion” before fetal viability.
The Arizona Board of Nursing determined in 2008 that nurses can perform abortions.
Lawmakers responded by removing the board’s authority to decide who is qualified for the procedure.
But the ACLU argues there’s no legitimate medical reason for that.
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The case involves state laws that ban certain advanced practice clinicians like specially trained nurse practitioners from providing abortion services — something they’ve historically done.
