A Tennessee court is currently considering arguments to temporarily block the state’s abortion ban. This request was filed by seven women who were denied abortions and two doctors who have been unable to carry out the procedure.
On the morning of 4 April, a three-judge panel commenced hearing oral arguments in the case of “Blackmon v. State of Tennessee.” The plaintiffs, represented by lawyers from the Center for Reproductive Rights, had filed a motion on 8 January seeking a temporary injunction on the state’s near-total ban on abortion.
Attorneys are seeking clarification on the medical exceptions to the ban. They are referring to a specific case involving seven women who were denied necessary and potentially life-saving medical care. The reason for this denial is the vague language of the law, which restricts doctors from providing appropriate treatment.
According to the group, the ban is causing a public health crisis by denying pregnant women in Tennessee access to medically necessary abortion care. Additionally, the lawyers argue that the ban is in violation of the state’s constitution.
The filing states that physicians require a declaratory judgment to ensure they can provide medically necessary abortion care to their patients without facing imprisonment and the risk of losing their medical licenses.
The ban has been in effect since August 2022, merely two months after the Supreme Court overturned the landmark case of Roe v Wade.
The hearing on Thursday marks an important milestone in the ongoing efforts to challenge and ultimately overturn the state’s abortion ban.
The nine plaintiffs, including Nicole Blackmon, Allie Phillips, Katy Dulong, Monica Kelly, Kathryn Archer, Rebecca Milner, Rachel Fulton, and doctors Heather Maune and Laura Andreson, are requesting a permanent injunction against the state’s abortion ban.
The state of Tennessee and several prominent officials and agencies, including Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, are facing a lawsuit.
According to the court filing, Ms. Blackmon, the main plaintiff in the case, discovered her pregnancy in July 2022. Despite dealing with serious ongoing health issues, she had to discontinue her medication to ensure the well-being of the fetus.
Unfortunately, even with all the necessary precautions, Ms. Blackmon received devastating news just 15 weeks into her pregnancy.
Ms. Blackmon lacked the means to travel outside of her home state for an abortion. Consequently, she found herself in a situation where she had no choice but to continue her pregnancy, despite the significant health risks it posed to her. One of the dangers she faced was exhibiting symptoms of preeclampsia, a life-threatening condition that can potentially result in a stroke.
Ms. Blackmon experienced the heartbreaking loss of her stillborn baby when she was seven months into her pregnancy.
Ms. Phillips, one of the plaintiffs, was denied an abortion in February, which motivated her to take action and run for office. She is now running as a Democrat in House District 75.
Tennessee joins the ranks of over 20 states that have implemented abortion bans.
