The possibility that only one abortion clinic will be available in Louisiana is said to be high if the appeals court rules so. However, this could change if and when the U.S. Supreme Court reverses the court ruling.
In a report by Decatur Daily, it was ruled by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday that a Louisiana law will require doctors providing abortion to have admitting privileges at a hospital that is within 30 miles from their clinic.
Supporters are saying that the law will protect women's health, The Guardian reported. It has taken effect now and the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents abortion clinics and doctors, said that only one clinic will be able to provide abortions.
The Center for Reproductive Rights added that the Women's Health Care Center in New Orleans will be the only clinic to remain open as they have doctors with admitting privileges. However, the clinics in Baton Rouge and Bossier City will be forced to stop providing abortions. Another clinic in Shreveport will also stop with their procedures if the law takes effect. A fifth clinic located in Metairie has closed just recently.
Abortion clinics and the doctors operating them have sued Louisiana to block the law. U.S. District Judge John deGravelles in Baton Rouge barred the state from enforcing the law but it was overturned by the appellate court in January. The same appellate court allowed the law to take effect in Texas last June.
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Rebekah E. Gee released a statement about the law saying that it will ensure "facilities and physicians that perform abortions are operating in the safest manner possible" and that they immediately has access to "emergency care."
Jeff Landry, Louisiana's attorney general, also said that the law is reasonable and a common-sense safety measure, Refinery 29 reported. Ruth Wisher, press secretary for Landry, echoed Gee's statements saying that abortion clinics in compliance with the law may remain open.
Those who will be violating the law will face a fine of up to $4,000 as well as the loss of a clinic's license. Doctors who will be performing abortion without admitting privileges could face licensing sanctions.
