By PAUL ELIAS
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal
appeals court has begun in San Francisco grappling with the
constitutionality of Arizona's abortion law, which prohibits abortion
after the 20th week of pregnancy.
Arizona's prohibition is
considered the most restrictive abortion law in the country. Three
Arizona obstetrician-gynecologists are challenging the law in federal
court.
On Monday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals began considering the issue Monday after a lower court judge upheld the law.
Supporters justify the ban by
arguing that fetuses can feel pain as early as 20 weeks of pregnancy and
that women face more health risks from later abortions. Critics dispute
both contentions.
Nine other states also have
20-week bans, but the Arizona ban is earliest because it uses a
different starting point to calculate a fetus' age.
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2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not
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