The state of Tennessee will cease enforcing two restrictions on abortion after a lawsuit was filed by three of the state’s abortion clinics.
The two regulations involve mandating that abortion clinics have admitting privileges at a local hospital and that abortion clinics maintain hospital quality surgical standards, according to The Christian Post.
Although pro-life advocates argue that these regulations are only minimum safety standards that all medical facilities should enforce, the three abortion clinics argue that they place undue restrictions upon abortion clinics, and therefore upon a woman’s ability to obtain an abortion.
"These abortion facilities refuse to be held to the same standards as legitimate health care providers and will do everything possible to avoid meeting even the most minimal health and safety standards required of other outpatient facilities,” said Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life.
The state of Tennessee agreed to stop enforcing these regulations, in keeping with the Supreme Court’s decision in Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt, a case which released Texas abortion clinics from these same safety standards.
Although these two restrictions will no longer be enforced at Tennessee abortion clinics, Tennessee will continue to enforce laws restricting abortion, including a 48-hour waiting period for abortion as well as mandatory counseling for women seeking abortions.
Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/kagenmi
Publication date: April 18, 2017
