After 7-year wait, law might take effect

INDIANAPOLIS -- A state law requiring women to wait 18 hours before getting an abortion could take effect next week after a seven-year wait of its own.\nThe 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago is expected to issue a formal ruling upholding the law Monday, allowing the requirement to immediately take effect.\nBut opponents of the law Wednesday were considering whether to ask the court to stay its order while they file a direct appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The law has been held up with court challenges since it was passed in 1995.\nThe law requires women seeking abortions to be counseled in person about the risks and alternatives 18 hours before the procedure, except in cases of medical emergencies.\nCurrently, women can get information about the procedure over the telephone. That would change if the law takes effect Monday.\n"I've put everybody on alert that we might have to change our procedures almost immediately," said Betty Cockrum, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater Indiana.\nSeven abortion clinics and an abortion doctor challenged the law in federal court, saying it would place an undue burden on women -- particularly the poor or those in rural areas -- by forcing two trips to a clinic.\nJudge David Hamilton agreed and ruled the law was unconstitutional in March 2001, but a three-judge panel of the appeals court overturned Hamilton's decision last month. The full appeals court declined to hear the case.\nOfficials at the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy in New York were discussing a further appeal Wednesday.\nCenter attorney Priscilla Smith said the decision must be made within 90 days. If the appeals court denies a stay, that issue could be appealed separately to one justice, she said.\nKen Falk, attorney with the Indiana Civil Liberties Union representing Planned Parenthood, said he is trying to determine whether the law would allow the first counseling visit to be held somewhere other than the clinic where the abortion is to be performed, saving the extra trip.