DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court has issued a ruling that allows doctors to continue dispensing abortion-inducing pills remotely via a video teleconferencing system.
The high court released its unanimous opinion Friday.
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the local affiliate, had sued the Iowa Board of Medicine over its 2013 decision that would have required a doctor to be in the room with a patient when dispensing abortion-inducing medication. The board cited safety concerns over a required physical examination.
The court agreed with Planned Parenthood’s argument that the rule would have placed an undue burden on women by requiring a doctor’s physical presence.
The court’s opinion was important for the future of the fairly unique procedure. Iowa is one of only two states offering it.
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