Louisiana abortion providers will not need admitting privileges as the US Supreme Court has struck down a state law passed in 2014. Congressman Mike Johnson, who served as co-counsel for the state when the law was argued before a federal judge, says the law was designed to protect women from unsafe abortion procedures.
“The legislation of course was passed with large bipartisan majorities in both houses of the Legislature. The state passed this to protect the women of Louisiana,” said Johnson.
But Louisiana Coalition for Reproductive Freedom Executive Committee member Katrina L. Rodgers says it’s obvious the law was an attempt to shutter abortion clinics.
“We know this measure was not introduced and passed to protect paitents and people that are receiving abortion care,” said Rodgers.
If the law had been upheld two of the state’s three clinics would have closed due to not having the privileges. Opponents of the law say hospitals discriminate against abortion providers when it comes to admitting privileges.
Civil Rights attorney S.Mandisa Moore-O’Neal says the law ping-ponged around the courts for years before this decision. She says the ruling makes it clear requiring privileges is an undue burden.
“As goes the south as goes the nation, and to me this case really exemplifies that,” said Moore-O’Neal.
Johnson says he fears this ruling will lead to legal challenges against other abortion regulations.
“I think they may have opened up a new floodgate, a new area of litigation to spur on the abortion industry to challenge other health and safety regulations,” said Johnson.
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