Figures that I'd find out just when the state is about to impose new regulations designed to shut it down. Although the governor claims to be working to protect women's health, he can't help but let his real goal slip out. As if closing down all abortion providers in the entire state is beneficial to women's health.
This is the latest from the (of course) Republican governor Phil Bryant. Having passed the state house and senate, the law only needs Bryant's signature. They've apparently been busy since the 'personhood' referendum failed last year.
"This legislation is an important step in strengthening abortion regulations and protecting the health and safety of women," Bryant said in a statement. "As governor, I will continue to work to make Mississippi abortion-free."
Currently, only one of the three physicians who provide abortions at the Mississippi clinic has admitting privileges at a local hospital, Derzis said previously. Admitting privileges are an arrangement with a hospital allowing the doctor to refer patients to the facility in case further treatment is needed.
Many Mississippi hospitals have refused to grant admitting privileges to physicians who provide abortions.
Reportedly, Diane Derzis, cited in the news article as the clinic's owner, will take this to the courts and challenge the law. Hopefully if it's passed they can establish a temporary order against the law while the court case plays out.
Since the legislation requires doctors to have these admitting privileges in order to perform abortions, and the state's hospitals have apparently conspired to refuse to grant them, this does seem like a simple recipe for shutting down abortion providers in the state.
Now, one might expect that if a politician is concerned about women's health and there are hospitals basically refusing to accept patients in need of treatment, that might pique the interest of said politician. But it's not as if Republicans like Bryant have to worry about having no providers in the entire state. I guess they have enough money to take care of their problems...elsewhere.
It's hard to imagine the hardship of having only one clinic in the state as it is, but it seems as if things can get worse in Mississippi.
11:02 AM PT: Not that it's hard to find the comment, heh. But I am reading pico's first link and offering some really good background info seems proper.
If you're interested and have some time (2+ / 0-)
this site had some really great writing on this particular clinic back in 2006, when the state threatened to shut it down completely (following South Dakota's lead). Here's a really good one for starters, then check out some of the diaries by annrose and (the late, sorely missed) william f harrison. There was also a great Frontline documentary worth checking out, "The Last Clinic".
Saint, n. A dead sinner revised and edited. - Ambrose Bierce
by pico on Thu Apr 05, 2012 at 10:29:59 AM MST
11:03 AM PT: http://www.dailykos.com/...
http://www.pbs.org/...
Thought the update would pick up the links, silly me