U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks on Thursday blocked a new regulation in Texas that requires healthcare facilities that provide abortions to pay for the burial or cremation of fetal remains instead of disposing of them as biological medical waste, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Texas lawmakers initially said the measure was intended to protect the dignity of the unborn and later said the regulation is needed to protect the public from disease, according to the report.
Several abortion providers filed a federal lawsuit against Texas on Monday to temporarily block the regulation, which was slated to take effect Dec. 19. The plaintiffs argued the regulation has no public health benefit.
Judge Sparks issued the temporary restraining order to give him time to learn more about how the regulation will affect abortion clinics and women. He also asked the state to provide more details about the regulation's public health benefits, according to the report.
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