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Arizona Turns to Supreme Court to Allow Ban

The Arizona attorney general has asked the US Supreme Court to allow the state to enforce its ban on abortions due to a fetal diagnosis of a genetic condition, the Associated Press reports.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed a bill into law in April that bars medical personnel from terminating due to the detection of a genetic anomaly, with some exceptions for lethal conditions. The bill additionally prevents state universities from providing abortions, bans the mailing of abortion-inducing drugs, and confers civil rights upon fetuses. In September, an Arizona judge blocked part of the law, including the provision that would have allowed charges to be brought against healthcare workers for performing terminations due to fetal genetic anomalies.

According to the AP, Mark Brnovich, Arizona's Republican attorney general, has asked the Supreme Court to allow Arizona to enforce its law, which he argues is not a ban, as an abortion could still be obtained if a different or no reason is given.

The AP notes that the request comes as the Supreme Court is weighing other restrictions on abortion in the US and has allowed a Texas ban on abortion after six weeks to remain in place while parts of that law are challenged.

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