North Dakota's Only Abortion Clinic Sues Over Laws It Says Force Doctors To Lie To Patients

North Dakota is among eight states, including five in the last year, to pass or amend laws requiring doctors to tell women undergoing medication abortions they can still have a live birth after the procedure. "The First Amendment prohibits the government from hijacking the doctor-patient relationship to advance a political agenda," said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights. Meanwhile, Missouri's last-remaining clinic asks for an extension to keep providing abortions past Friday.

North Dakota's sole abortion clinic filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday over two state laws it believes forces doctors to lie, including one measure passed this year requiring physicians to tell women that they may reverse a so-called medication abortion if they have second thoughts. The complaint from the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of the Red River Women's Clinic and the American Medical Association also targets an existing law requiring doctors to tell patients that abortion terminates "the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being." The suit says the laws violate the constitutional rights of doctors by forcing them to "convey false information and non-medical statements" to patients. It asks a judge to block enforcement. (Kolpack, 6/25)

Missouri's only abortion clinic on Tuesday asked a state panel for an extension to continue providing abortions after its license is set to expire Friday. The state health department last week refused to renew the St. Louis Planned Parenthood affiliate's license, and a court order protecting abortions at the clinic is set to expire Friday. (Ballentine, 6/25)

And in other news on abortion —

Another Utah community is taking a strong stance against abortion, declaring formal support for state and national legislation "that protects human life from its earliest stages." The Utah County Commission — applauded by more than a dozen supporters wearing bright yellow shirts in solidarity against abortion — voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve the resolution, formally declaring Utah County's "support for protecting all human life." (McKellar, 6/25)

Kaiser Health News: A Roundup Of State Bans On Abortion Early In Pregnancy

This year has brought an unprecedented wave of new state laws that allow abortions to be performed only early in pregnancy — if at all. Most of the new laws — known as early abortion bans — explicitly outlaw abortion when performed after a certain point early in the pregnancy. The laws vary, with some forbidding abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, and some after eight weeks. (Gordon and Hurt, 6/26)

This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.

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