5-27-14 abortion trial underway

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Attorneys for abortion providers are trying to persuade a federal judge that a Wisconsin law requiring those providers to have hospital admitting privileges is unnecessary.

Planned Parenthood and Affiliated Medical Services contend the law will force AMS's Milwaukee clinic to close because providers there lack such admitting privileges. State attorneys counter the law provides continuity of care if complications arise.  AMS clinic director Wendie Ashlock testified in a bench trial that began Tuesday that between 2010 and 2012 about 60 of the clinic's roughly 7,000 patients suffered complications and three were transferred to a hospital in 2012 and 2013.  Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin medical director Kathy King testified complications are rare and that emergency room doctors can treat the patients. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas have similar laws. Abortion clinics in Alabama have mounted a similar lawsuit.