Groups, individuals suing Maine over abortion law

PORTLAND, Maine — The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday that challenges a Maine rule that is common across most of the U.S. requiring that abortions be performed solely by physicians.

The two groups were joined by four nurses and abortion provider Maine Family Planning in challenging the law that prevents advanced practice registered nurses, such as nurse practitioners and nurse midwives, from performing the procedure.

Julie Jenkins, a Belfast nurse practitioner and a plaintiff, said the state’s rule is “medically unjustified” and especially punitive in Maine’s rural areas, where access to doctors who provide abortions can be scarce.

“All of us want women to have access to safe medical care,” said Dr. Raegan McDonald-Moseley, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood. “Medical experts oppose outdated restrictions like this one because they don’t help keep women safe, and aren’t grounded in thorough research or the best science.”

The lawsuit names Maine Attorney General Janet Mills and several district attorneys as defendants. A spokesman for Mills says the office has not been served with the lawsuit and has no comments on the merits of the case.

The two other northern New England states — Vermont and New Hampshire — do not require that only physicians perform abortions, but a majority of the states do. The Maine law restricting abortions to licensed physicians dates back to the 1970s, ACLU of Maine attorney Zachary Heiden said.