Planned Parenthood asks judge for emergency ruling

Laura Goodhue, executive director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, says the Agency for Health Care Administration changed its definitions of gestational periods and that the centers were operating in compliance with Florida law. But they have stopped providing abortions on women between 12 and 13 weeks and six days until a judge decides. They have referred about 10 patients to other medical providers in the meantime.

She criticized what she called an inconsistent new interpretation of gestational periods as a political stunt by Republican Gov. Rick Scott.

He ordered the inspections after stealthily recorded videos showed Planned Parenthood officials discussing how they provide aborted fetal organs for research. Abortion opponents say the videos show the organization is illegally harvesting and selling organs.

Planned Parenthood, which has denied the allegations, provides contraception and screens for cancer and sexually transmitted infections in addition to terminating pregnancies.

The videos brought congressional scrutiny including calls to withdraw federal funding from the organization. Scott called the videos troubling and has previously said it's illegal to sell body parts.

Goodhue has said Florida doesn't have a tissue donation program.

She said they want a judge to immediately "clarify that we are in fact following the rule as stated in the regulation so (the state) doesn't take further administrative action."

When asked earlier this month whether the inspections were politically motivated, Scott said it was important to let the public know his administration was responding.

State health officials did not immediately comment on Monday's injunction request. The state has not specified what, if any, actions it might take for the alleged violations uncovered during the inspections.

Al Jazeera and The Associated Press