Three judges in Tennessee issued an injunction that temporarily protects doctors in the state from being disciplined for performing medically necessary abortions. The temporary injunction was issued Thursday in response to a lawsuit filed more than a year ago seeking to stop Tennessee’s abortion ban and require officials to clarify the “medical necessity exemption”

A three-judge panel on Thursday ruled that Tennessee doctors who provide emergency abortions to protect the life of the mother cannot have their medical licenses revoked or face other disciplinary actions while a lawsuit challenging the state's sweeping abortion ban continues.