A judge has temporarily lifted two state laws, allowing Wyoming’s sole abortion clinic to resume surgical abortion services. The decision, made by District Judge Thomas Campbell, comes amid a legal challenge from Wellspring Health Access and others who contend the laws are restrictive.
The contested legislation includes a requirement for clinics offering surgical abortions to be licensed as outpatient surgical centers and a mandate for women to undergo an ultrasound before a medication abortion. Following the implementation of the licensing law by Republican Governor Mark Gordon, Wellspring Health Access ceased abortion services on February 28 but has continued to offer hormone replacement therapy for transgender individuals.
Governor Gordon initially vetoed the ultrasound requirement, citing it as burdensome in cases involving abuse, rape, or risks to a woman’s health. However, state legislators overrode this veto on March 5. Critics argue that such regulations, often termed “targeted restrictions on abortion providers,” can effectively curtail clinics and restrict abortion access even when the procedure remains legally permissible.
To meet the surgical center licensing criteria, Wellspring Health Access would be compelled to undergo costly renovations. Although the ultrasound mandate did not greatly affect its operations, the clinic opted to suspend medication abortions to prevent legal difficulties.
Wellspring Health Access, which began operations in 2023 following a delayed opening due to arson-induced damage, remains a pivotal player in the ongoing legal discourse surrounding abortion rights in Wyoming. Abortion continues to be legal in the state as legal battles persist over newly enacted bans since 2022 that include the nation’s first explicit prohibition on abortion pills. The Wyoming Supreme Court heard arguments regarding these bans on April 16 in Cheyenne.
In November, a state district court judge ruled that these bans contravene the Wyoming Constitution, highlighting a 2012 amendment that affirms the right of competent adults to make autonomous health care decisions.