TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Planned Parenthood is asking a judge for an emergency ruling to allow them to continue performing abortions at 12 and 13 weeks.
Monday's request comes after state health officials inspected 16 Planned Parenthood facilities and said three were performing second-trimester abortions when they licensed to perform first-trimester abortions.
Executive Director Laura Goodhue says the Agency for Health Care Administration changed its definitions of gestational periods and that the centers were operating in compliance with Florida law. They've stopped providing abortions on women between 12 and 13.6 weeks until a judge decides.
She criticized what she called an inconsistent interpretation of gestational periods as a political stunt by Republican Gov. Rick Scott.
He ordered inspections after stealthily recorded videos showed Planned Parenthood officials discussing how they provide aborted fetal organs used for research.
Goodhue says Florida doesn't have a tissue donation program.
