[JURIST] The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of Maine and Planned Parenthood [advocacy websites] on Wednesday challenged [complaint] a Maine law requiring abortions to be performed by a physician.

22 MRS §1598 [statute] reads “Any person not so licensed who knowingly performs an abortion on another person or any person who knowingly assists a nonlicensed person to perform an abortion on another person is guilty of a Class C crime.”

The complaint says that the statute “imposes severe burdens on women seeking abortions” which the Supreme Court has declared is unconstitutional. The complaint further states that advanced practice registered nurses, who are nurses who hold advanced degrees, are fully qualified to perform abortions. The complaint says that abortion is the only health care service that such nurses are prohibited from performing under Maine law, even though it is a comparatively safe procedure. The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction and declaratory relief.

At the beginning of the month a federal judge blocked [JURIST report] a Texas law that banned a common second trimester abortion procedure. Last month Texas lawmakers approved a bill restricting insurance coverage for abortions. Also in August an Oregon governor signed [JURIST report] a bill expanding coverage of abortions and birth control.