The Attorney General’s Office is investigating reports of elective surgical centers, including abortion clinics, continuing their operations despite the Governor’s stay at home order.
Spokesperson Deanna Fortin says outpatient abortion clinics in both Shreveport and Baton Rouge have been reported, along with an endoscopy center in Shreveport. The Governor’s order calls for the suspension of all elective and non-emergency medical procedures, and Fortin that some cancer surgeries have had to be delayed, and abortion services are not more essential.
“I don’t think it makes sense to say that a woman’s personal choice to get an abortion is more important than a woman who needs surgery for cancer,” says Fortin.
Similar situations in other states have been reported, and advocates argue that abortion services are essential and not something you can put off for several weeks.
Fortin says facilities that do not comply with the Governor’s order will be eligible to receive a citation.
“There is a possibility of licensure action being taken by the Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners also has said that they have a zero-tolerance policy on this,” says Fortin.
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