Louisiana could become the first state to effectively outlaw abortion since Roe vs Wade if its restrictive new law is upheld by the Supreme Court next year
- Louisiana’s ‘Unsafe Abortion Protection Act’ goes to Supreme Court in spring
- Doctors performing abortions in the state would be required to have hospital admitting privileges
- Two doctors currently the criterion, however has retired and the other fears being a target will not be ‘last man standing’
- Abortion became legalized by the Supreme Court from the landmark Roe v. Wade case in 1973
Louisiana could become the first state where women are unable to get an abortion, since the procedure was legalized in 1973 following the Roe v. Wade case.
The Supreme Court will make the landmark ruling in the spring.
At the heart of the case is Louisiana’s ‘Unsafe Abortion Protection Act.’ Not currently in effect, it requires doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. Supporters of the law say that would assist with ‘continuity of care’ in the event of an emergency.
But critics and the vast majority of medical professionals say it imposes unnecessary restrictions and undue burdens on abortion providers.
Only two qualified abortion doctors have received the special designation, for admitting privileges.
Protesters gather in January at the ‘March for Life’ rally commemorating the anniversary of the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision
Abortion rights activists assembled in New York on Oct. 5 as Louisiana could become the first state without providing abortion access
But, as CBS News reported, that number is expected to fall to zero, as one of the doctors with admitting privileges, refereed to as ‘Dr. John Doe 5’ in court documents, stopped providing abortions a year ago.
The other physician, listed as Dr. John Doe 3, claims he’ll retire if the Supreme Court upholds the law, calling himself the ‘last man standing.’
He said that if he was the sole provider, he would be ‘a target for those who are radicals who are opposed to abortion.’ according to court documents.
That retirement would effectively shut the doors to Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport, among the other abortion clinic statewide.
‘There’s been veiled threats there, there’s constant online harassment through social media. If all the other clinics were to close, it would be more than anybody could ask of him to continue the work,’ Hope Medical Group for Women Administrator Kathaleen Pittman said.
However, Katrina Jackson, who authored the law for the Louisiana House of Representatives, told CBS News that she thinks the retirement plans are a ploy.
‘I think it’s a part of their case,’ she said.
The state’s abortion clinics are working on contingency options if the Supreme Court does not strike down the law, but as it stands now without admitting privileges, Delta Clinic in Baton Rouge and Women’s Health Care Clinic in New Orleans would be blocked from providing the service.
The Louisiana law is virtually identical to a Texas law the Supreme Court struck down in 2016, when Justice Anthony Kennedy was on the bench and before President Donald Trump´s two high court picks, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
Furthermore, a Planned Parenthood in New Orleans is also in court, fighting for a license to become an abortion provider, CBS News said.
Planned Parenthood is one of the abortion clinics that will not be able to provide the procedure if the Supreme Court upholds a law next year