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Social scientists file amicus brief urging U.S. Supreme Court to find admitting privileges unconstitutional

Leading social scientists, led by ANSIRH and the Texas Policy Evaluation Project (TxPEP), filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to reject Louisiana’s law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at hospitals. The law will be reviewed in the Supreme Court case June Medical Services v. Gee, which will be heard on March 4, 2020. The brief points to the body of scientific evidence on these restrictions showing that admitting privileges are medically unnecessary and that laws that create barriers to abortion services harm, rather than improve, women’s health.

The ruling in this case could determine what access, if any, people would have to abortion care not only in Louisiana, but also across the country. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on June Medical Services v. Gee by June 2020.

In the 2016 case Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, the Supreme Court ruled admitting privileges are unconstitutional based on evidence that admitting privileges are medically unnecessary and impose an undue burden on people seeking abortion services.

Read the full Amicus brief and download our press release.