Appeals Court Upholds New Texas Abortion Restrictions

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a new Texas abortion law, passed last summer, that required abortionists to have admitting privileges at local hospitals and strict adherence to FDA protocol when administering abortion pills.

As the Associated Press reports, a panel of all-female judges at the New Orleans-based appeals court issued its decision on Thursday, overturning a lower court judge’s ruling who said the new restrictions violate the U.S. Constitution and served no medical purpose.

The office of Texas attorney general Greg Abbott argued that the new law that requires abortionists to have admitting privileges at a local hospital is a constitutional use of the state legislature’s authority.

According to AP, Planned Parenthood, which sued to block the law, referred to the decision as “terrible,” and said that “safe and legal abortion will continue to be virtually impossible for thousands of Texas women to access.”

“The latest restrictions in Texas will force women to have abortions later in pregnancy, if they are able to get to a doctor at all,” said Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Votes in a statement.

In addition, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said, “The law is having a devastating impact on women in Texas, and the court should have struck it down.” 

Attorneys for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers will likely appeal this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a press release, national pro-life organization Susan B. Anthony List praised the court for upholding the legislation.

“We applaud the 5th Circuit Court for upholding this common sense measure to safeguard women from unscrupulous abortionists,” said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “From Kermit Gosnell’s ‘house of horrors’ to one Planned Parenthood’s ‘meat market style’ abortions, last year the nation’s eyes were opened to the tragic reality of what goes on inside America’s abortion facilities.”

“Thankfully, pro-life legislators in Texas took notice and sought to protect women from such negligence and brutality in their state,” Dannenfelser added. “It is an outrage that America’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, would seek to undo this and other safety standards aimed at protecting women. The consequences of championing abortion masked as ‘women’s health care’ have already proved tragic in state after state.”