DALLAS - Starting Friday, women in Texas must be hear and see a sonogram of their fetus 24 hours before having an abortion.
A court ruling cleared the way for immediate enforcement of the state's new abortion law.
Practically speaking, the Texas Department of State Health Services and Planned Parenthood both gave indications to News 8 that it will take some short amount of time to alert abortion providers and put the changes in place.
Earlier in the week, a federal judge ruled in favor of implementation. After that, it appeared as though there would be a three-week period before could be put into force, which is standard.
Today's ruling, by a three-judge panel, called for immediate implementation. Abortion opponents like the Catholic Pro-Life Committee applaud the ruling.
"It allows for a implementation of a law that should have implemented back in fall after the people of Texas had spoken," said CPLC spokeswoman Becky Visosky.
State Health Services said it is in the process of sending notices to abortion providers in Texas. Planned Parenthood said it will take its cues from that directive.
This decision, from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, in effect, means the Texas law will be in effect even as doctors, who continue to challenge it, appeal its legality.
Southwestern Women's Surgery Center, one of the largest abortion providers in North Texas, released this statement:
E-mail dschechter@wfaa.com
