Florida's 15-week abortion ban faces ACLU and Planned Parenthood lawsuit

A group of healthcare providers filed a lawsuit on Wednesday to prevent Florida's 15-week abortion ban from going into effect next month.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and it's Florida chapter, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for Reproductive Rights, and the Jenner & Block law firm filed the 33-page lawsuit on behalf of several state healthcare providers.

The abortion ban passed the Florida state Senate 23-15 in March, one month after the state House passed the bill 78-39 on a party-line vote.

The law will prohibit abortions after 15 weeks of gestation with exemptions for fetal abnormalities and medical necessity, but without exceptions for rape or incest.

The lawsuit names 20 Florida state attorneys as defendants as well as five Florida health officials, including Health Secretary Dr. Joseph Ladapo.

The plaintiffs argued in the filing that the Florida law "violates the right to privacy of women seeking and obtaining abortions in the state."

In a press release, the ACLU claimed that the Florida abortion ban is "blatantly unconstitutional under the state constitution."

The law "will force Floridians to remain pregnant against their will, violating their dignity and bodily autonomy, and endangering their families, their health, and even their lives," the group claimed.