Abortion-rights groups filed a lawsuit Friday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court to block a new law that they say would threaten abortion clinics in southwest Ohio.
The ACLU of Ohio and Planned Parenthood Federation of America is seeking a restraining order and then a preliminary injunction on behalf of Women's Med of Dayton.
Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 157 into law in December and takes effect in March but the plaintiffs argue that it's already being enforced.
Under current law, clinics must have a written transfer agreement with a local hospital. Absent that, the clinics can get a variance approved by the Ohio Department of Health if they have a consulting physician to provide back-up coverage.
