Planned Parenthood of Michigan on court lifting Michigan’s 24-hour delay, other harmful restrictions on abortion
For Immediate Release: June 25, 2024
Court of Claims grants a preliminary injunction to temporarily lift the restrictions while case challenging their constitutionality is underway
DETROIT — The Michigan Court of Claims granted a preliminary injunction today to temporarily lift Michigan’s 24-hour mandatory delay and other harmful restrictions for abortion while their ultimate fate is decided in a suit filed in February by the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of Northland Family Planning Center and Medical Students for Choice.
These restrictions are clearly in violation of Proposal 3, the Reproductive Freedom for All ballot initiative that voters overwhelmingly passed in 2022, which states that an individual’s right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, burdened, or infringed upon. The other restrictions challenged in the suit include a requirement that abortion providers give state-mandated biased counseling and bans advanced practice clinicians from providing abortion care, even though they’re permitted to administer the same medications and procedures for patients experiencing early miscarriages.
Statement from Paula Thornton Greear, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Michigan:
“We proudly provide patients with high-quality, compassionate care, yet for too long, our patients have been forced to jump through hoops that stigmatize their decisions and are intended to dissuade them from getting them the abortion care that they need.
“Michigan’s 24-hour delay forces us to turn patients away every day, and it’s heartbreaking to witness, especially knowing that they’ve made arrangements — like taking time off work, arranging childcare, and finding a ride — and sometimes traveled hundreds of miles only to be forced to reschedule their appointments, delaying their time-sensitive care.
“We are grateful to Judge Sima Patel for upholding the will of the people who overwhelmingly passed Proposal 3 and to The Center for Reproductive Rights, Northland Family Planning Centers, and Medical Students for Choice for filing the suit against these harmful and medically unnecessary restrictions that have infringed on the rights of Michiganders for far too long.”
Statement from Dr. Sarah Wallett, Chief Medical Operating Officer for Planned Parenthood of Michigan:
“My entire career, I have been forced to make patients wait for an arbitrary amount of time dictated by politicians before providing them with the medical care they need. For the first time ever tomorrow, I will be able to provide my patients care based on evidence-based practice, clinical standards, and the desires of my patients.
“We are relieved that the court has lifted Michigan’s 24-hour mandatory delay, which has forced us to turn away abortion patients at our health centers every day, all because they forgot to print and bring a timestamped piece of paper to their appointment to prove they’ve reviewed biased misinformation on a state website more than 24 hours before their appointment.
“Everyone deserves patient-centered care with the opportunity to discuss the risks and benefits with their provider based on their individual circumstances. That’s what true informed consent is, and this law has prevented abortion patients in Michigan from receiving it for too long.”
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Planned Parenthood offers affordable reproductive health care for all people through medical services, education and advocacy and is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider. Planned Parenthood of Michigan operates health centers across the state, providing medical services and sexuality education for nearly 60,000 Michiganders each year.