State attorneys attempt to preserve legal limit on who can provide an abortion in Alaska

The Alaska Supreme Court is considering a case that could determine who can provide abortion care in the state. The case revolves around a law passed in 1970 that only allows licensed physicians to perform abortions, but has been suspended since 2021, allowing advanced clinicians like nurse practitioners to provide care. The state is challenging this suspension, arguing that the law should be reinstated and only doctors should be allowed to perform abortions. The case hinges on whether the law should be subject to strict scrutiny, a legal standard that requires the state to prove the law is absolutely necessary and constitutional. Planned Parenthood and other groups argue that the law should not be reinstated as it would limit access to abortion care and potentially harm victims of abuse or assault. The Alaska Supreme Court is currently reviewing the arguments and will announce their decision later. DNN | The Daily News Now! The world’s first global local news network. Every city. Every story. AI powered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.