Alabama abortion clinics face uncertain future as restrictive GOP legislation looms

The God Discussion reported on 29 November 2013 about the sole abortion clinic in Jackson, Mississippi that was under threat of being legislatively shut down. Jackson Women’s Health Organization is the only clinic in the entire state of Mississippi that is authorized to provide abortion services, and GOP lawmakers were intent on shuttering it by changing requirements for abortion providers in such a way that it would be virtually impossible for the center to stay open.

In a nutshell, the wording involved physicians to have admitting privileges at a hospital, and none of the seven area hospitals have granted them. The clinic was technically out of compliance as of 31 January 2013, but The Center for Reproductive Rights filed a motion that requested the implementation of the law to be ceased, stating it will force the closure of the clinic and offer no access to abortion in the entire state.

The President and CEO of the center, Nancy Northrup, as stating,

“Mississippi women have the same constitutional rights as any other women in the United States. They deserve far better than to be forced to travel hundreds of miles to another state to get a safe, legal medical procedure.”

The clinic received a warning from the state last Friday, but under a state administrative procedures law, Jackson Women's will remain operating until a hearing, which can be more than a month from now.

Now, Alabama has jumped into the fray with similar legislation. Republican lawmakers in Alabama took major steps today to a similar goal as legislators in Mississippi. There are currently five abortion clinics in Alabama, but that could change.

The GOP-controlled House Health Committee passed what is quizzically called the “Women’s Health and Safety Act,” also known as HB57, sponsored by Republican Mary Sue McClurkin.

A vote before the full legislature is expected within days. If the bill passes, the requirements that abortion clinics have a physician with hospital privileges in the same area that a clinic uses abortion-inducing drugs present for all abortion services could end the access to abortion for many women in the state.

According to a story filed by ThinkProgress, the bill is a 'smokescreen' that is based on what they report as a template that was created by 'Americans United for Life,' a pro-life organization.

Gloria Gray, the Director of the West Alabama Women's Health Center was cited as stating,

“This bill targets regulatory standards of architectural structure, equipment and staffing that are totally unnecessary and cannot be met by the clinics. How does requiring a six-foot hallway make it safer for a woman to have an abortion?”

It's not just Alabama and Mississippi, but the report also states that in Tennessee, an abortion clinic that had been open for almost forty years was forced out of business due to a bill that is similar to the ones cited in this story.

For more information, commentary and relevant links, please read the rest of the story at ThinkProgress.

Al Stefanelli

Al serves on the Board of Directors for The Clergy Project, and is the former Georgia State Director for American Atheists, Inc. He is a retired journalist and the author of "Free Thoughts - A Collection Of Essays By An American Atheist" and "A Voice Of Reason In An Unreasonable World - The Rise Of Atheism On Planet Earth." Al began writing in 1985, starting with the New York Times. In 1993 he joined a McClatchy newspaper, writing a weekly column for ten years. His writing continues to be widely distributed on the Internet and in print. He also produced and hosted a weekly syndicated radio broadcast for three years and was the founder and President of the former United Atheist Front, Inc., which functioned as a civil rights organization. Al is a former Southern Baptist Pastor, having served two churches and as pulpit supply for three counties. Currently, he writes for The God Discussion, hosts his own blog on WordPress, submits content to a variety of publications, and co-hosts "American Heathen Radio" and "Reap Sow Radio." Al lives in Peachtree City, GA., a suburb of Atlanta.

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