Mother, Child Safety First in TX Abortion Clinic Ruling
The health and safety of both mothers and their babies was front of mind in a federal court ruling on a Texas abortion clinic law Tuesday.
The law requires clinics to operate under the same state standards as any other clinic offering out-patient procedures. It would ensure that the clinics basically operate under hospital-level standards.
The court ruled in the case of Whole Woman's Health v. Lakey, that the medical requirement advances Texas' interests in safeguarding maternal health and protecting women from substandard abortion facilities and practices.
Pro-life leaders see it as a victory for women and children.
"Texas has struck a decisive blow for women's health and safety against a predatory abortion industry," Americans United for Life President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest said.
What's the significance of this ruling? Yoest answered this and more. Click play to watch the rest of her interview with CBN News.
"A largely under-monitored, under-supervised, and secretive abortion industry tells women 'trust but don't verify that our clinics are clean and safe.' No longer should women be abandoned to self-serving and false assurances from an industry that puts profits over people," she added.
Pro-choice leaders call the ruling a setback, saying it will leave as few as seven abortion clinics in the state of Texas.
"Not since before Roe v. Wade has a law or court decision had the potential to devastate access to reproductive healthcare on such a sweeping scale," said Nancy Northrop, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights.
"We now look to the Justices to stop the sham laws that are shutting clinics down and placing countless women at risk of serious harm," she said.
Justices stated in the ruling that nine out of 10 women in the state would still have access to an abortion clinic within 150 miles of them.
The number of abortion clinics in Texas is on decline from 40 clinics in 2012 to currently about 17. That decline began after the 5th Circuit upheld another part of the 2013 law requiring doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.
