PHOENIX — Many abortion providers are resuming services in Arizona. This comes just days after an emergency stay was granted temporarily blocking the enforcement of a nearly complete ban on abortions.
The stay has been granted as the legal battle moves to the Arizona Court of Appeals.
“Obviously, we were thrilled I mean it’s just such a relief for the patients,” said Medical Director and owner of Camelback Family Planning Dr. Gabrielle Goodrick.
She said Friday her staff went from taking calls from stressed-out patients to hours later learning they could resume services.
“Oh my gosh, it's legal again,” said Dr. Goodrick describing her office’s reaction. “Okay, we can answer the phones and help people.”
She told ABC15 that Monday was already busy with people calling and coming in who had heard the news.
ABC15 spoke with one of those patients, who wasn’t comfortable sharing her identity.
“I am eight weeks, and you know just everybody has their reasons,” said the woman.
She told ABC15 she decided to walk in Monday to learn her options as quickly as possible.
“Sometimes we're not in the best situations to bring life into this world,” said the woman.
With the Pre-Roe law on hold again, Arizona does have another law passed just this year on the books. That law only bans abortions after 15 weeks.
This woman told us the legal limbo in Arizona makes things even more challenging.
“Yeah, because it just makes the decision even tougher cause now you have to think about whether you are able to or not,” she said.
A week after the stay was issued, physicians continue providing abortion services.
Dr. Paul Isaacson recently packed up his clinic where he provided abortions in Arizona full time for almost twenty years. But, after the stay was granted last week he was able to reopen the doors this week and operate under a 15-week ban.
“There’s a considerable amount of confusion, I don’t think a lot of people know we and other clinics are open again,” said Isaacson.
Isaacson said that he has operated from a clinic he has in Las Vegas, and has seen women traveling from Arizona for reproductive care, “Last Saturday, after we realized we’d be able to open this week, I had to ironically tell Arizona women our clinic will be back open, you can come up to us for follow-ups or if you have any concerns in phoenix, telling them although they made this trip to Las Vegas, it turns out they didn’t have to.”
Outside Isaacson's clinic, a small group gathered peacefully to protest abortions resuming.
The 40 Days for Life campaign is taking place across Phoenix, where volunteers sign up to hold prayer vigils on public sidewalks.
The group plans to continue their prayer vigils through the month into early November.
As for Isaacson, he said he for now he will continue care while the legal battle continues in the state.
The quickly changing legal landscape is also frustrating to people like Lynn Dyre, who are against abortion.
“Just Friday I was here, and it was illegal,” said Dyre. “Then all of a sudden it’s legal.”
She visits abortion providers daily, talking to women and even taking them to Life Choices Women’s Clinic.
“So, if I can come out here and talk to a woman and take her to our clinic and she can get the help that she needs that’s why I’m here,” said Dyre.
She insisted there is help available that people, and those that are expecting, might not know about.
As Dyre visits providers and as services resume, people on both sides of the issue continue to hope for clarity.
“It’s hard I wish they would make the final decision,” said Dyre.
Planned Parenthood Arizona told ABC15, they and their legal team are waiting to see if Attorney General Mark Burnovich will ask the Supreme Court to take up the stay.
ABC15 has reached out to the AG’s office asking if they will, but no one has responded yet.
If the AG doesn’t challenge it, the ban will be blocked until the appeals court hears the case on the Pre-Roe law.
