Correction: Kansas-Abortion story

TOPEKA, Kan. — In a story June 28 about a Kansas judge blocking a new abortion restriction, The Associated Press erroneously reported that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said it knows of no legitimate evidence showing that a fetus can feel pain after 20 weeks. Its sister organization, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, issued that statement.

A corrected version of the story is below:

Judge puts parts of new Kan. abortion law on hold

Judge puts 2 new Kansas abortion restrictions on hold, allows others to take effect

By JOHN HANNA

Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judge on Friday temporarily blocked a new abortion restriction that providers said would make it nearly impossible for a woman to obtain the procedure in an emergency and another requiring them to tell women that disputed assertions about fetal development and abortions are accurate and objective.

The judge ruled in a lawsuit filed by Dr. Herbert Hodes and his daughter, Dr. Traci Nauser, who perform abortions at their Overland Park health center. They asked Crotty to prevent the state from enforcing the entire law while their lawsuit proceeds.

One blocked provision requires providers to declare on their websites that the state health department's information on abortions and fetal development is accurate and objective. Among other things, that information asserts that a fetus can feel pain after 20 weeks, although the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said it knows of no legitimate evidence showing that's accurate.

Another blocked provision redefines medical emergencies. The intention was to bring the definition in line with the state's general policy of not including mental health as a reason for a woman to obtain an emergency abortion. Critics of the provision have said the new definition is so narrow that a woman never would be able to avoid the state's 24-hour waiting period, even if her life were in danger.

Hodes called the ruling a "victory for women in Kansas." One of his attorneys, Teresa Woody, of Kansas City, Mo., said Crotty's order stops enforcement of what the doctors saw as the two most troublesome provisions in the law "because of their immediate impact on their ability to treat patients."

In considering the new language on medical emergencies, the judge said the two doctors "supported" their assertion that the changes "effectively eliminate any meaningful exception."

Kansas House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lance Kinzer, an Olathe Republican heavily involved in drafting anti-abortion legislation, said he's fine with the court ordering the state to "tweak" the language on medical emergencies, viewing the changes made this year as technical.

Abortion opponents also said they're confident that the website requirement will stand once it's reviewed further.

"I'm glad to hear that the rest of it was upheld," said Mary Kay Culp, executive director of Kansans for Life, the most influential anti-abortion group at the Statehouse. "It is very much a law that's pro-women being able to make more of a real choice."

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, a strong abortion opponent, noted that the litigation is in early stages and "this will go through a number of court iterations."

Hodes and Nauser argued that the law violates their rights to equal legal protection and due legal process, as guaranteed by the state constitution. They said the website mandate violated their free-speech rights.

Crotty's ruling came two days after the chief federal judge for Kansas had a hearing in Kansas City, Kan., on a narrower challenge filed by Planned Parenthood. That challenge involves the website rule as well as other provisions regarding information must give to patients.