Idaho abortion trial to hear from women denied medically necessary abortions

Lawsuit filed by pro-choice protesters seeks to clarify medical exceptions in states's near-total abortion ban

Women denied medically necessary abortions in Idaho are expected to testify this week in a trial over the state's near-total abortion ban.

The trial, which starts on Tuesday and is expected to last through at least Thursday, is part of a lawsuit filed by abortion rights supporters who want to clarify the medical exceptions in Idaho's near-total abortion ban. Currently, abortions are only permitted in Idaho to preserve a patient's health. The vagueness of the exception means women have been forced to go out of state for the procedure, or wait until they get sick enough that doctors can legally intervene.