Judge bans Indiana from enforcing chemical abortion law

A federal judge has barred Indiana from enforcing a law requiring a clinic that only prescribes abortion-inducing medication have surgical equipment. The law, which was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, only applies to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Lafayette, the Indianapolis Star reported. The law does not apply to doctors who offer chemical abortions at their offices, and the clinic is the only one in the state that does not also do surgical procedures. State Attorney General Greg Zoeller said his office has not decided on its next legal move. It has 30 days to decide whether to appeal Tuesday's ruling. Betty Cockrum, who heads Planned Parenthood of Indiana, said the Lafayette clinic does not need surgical equipment because women take the drugs that complete the abortion process at home.