A federal district judge has blocked enforcement of a Texas law passed in May requiring women seeking abortions to undergo a sonogram at least 24 hours prior to the procedure and to hear the baby's heartbeat and a description from the abortion provider of the baby's physical features. Baptist Press reports that U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks of Austin, in an Aug. 30 injunction, said the law, which was to go into effect Sept. 1, "compels physicians to advance an ideological agenda with which they may not agree, regardless of any medical necessity, and irrespective of whether the pregnant women wish to listen." Elaborating on his ruling, Sparks wrote that the law's requirements expand beyond medically necessary information and "are unconstitutional violations of the First Amendment right to be free from compelled speech." Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a notice of appeal in the case shortly after the decision was announced. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who signed the bill into law on May 19, lamented the ruling. "Every life lost to abortion is a tragedy and today's ruling is a great disappointment to all Texans who stand in defense of life," Perry said in a statement.
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