TEXAS–Abortion clinic chain owner Amy Hagstrom Miller announced late Wednesday that she was closing down two Whole Woman’s Health locations in Beaumont and McAllen due to recent enforcement of Texas’ new abortion safety law.
New state law requires that abortion clinics have emergency admitting privileges to nearby hospitals, perform operations in surgical facilities and bans procedures after 20 weeks of gestation–among others.
In a statement on the company’s Facebook page, Hagstrom registered her frustration with the news.
“We are devastated to announce that we’re closing our clinics in McAllen and Beaumont this week. After serving women in these communities for over 10 years, Texas politicians have forced us to shut our doors. Tonight, Texas has gone from 22 clinics to 20. #justice4txwomen #fightbacktx”
Texas Right to Life acknowledged the news in a statement to Breitbart Texas, “All abortion providers and clinics have the right to choose to adhere to the health and safety standards outlined by the law, otherwise face non-compliance. Some abortion clinic operators have chosen to close their doors instead of taking the necessary steps to conform to the law and provide a safe level of care for their patients. Substandard clinics such as these are dangerous for women.”
According to a 2013 study, the Beaumont Whole Woman’s location held the most violations in Texas according to records reviewed by investigators. The Texas Tribune revealed, “Auditors found that a sterilization machine was not working properly and that nurses were not trained to recognize the problem.”
The abortion safety law is currently being litigated thanks to Planned Parenthood and other plaintiffs in the U.S. 5th Circuit of Appeals.
Follow Logan Churchwell on Twitter @LCChurchwell
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