As of Friday, Texas can enforce certain restrictions upon its abortion clinics. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans determined that Texas can require clinics to raise up to the standards implemented in hospitals. This decision means that all abortion clinics in Texas need to be shut down, except seven of them, which fit the new requirements. Critics say that this new law is actually a method of outlawing abortions. Abortion has been a constitutional right since 1973.
In August 2014, a lower court ruled that such a decision would be unconstitutional because it will make it more difficult for women to seek proper medical procedures. However, Republicans and other similar conservative individuals in Texas believe the law will protect women, by exposing them to high standard health services. Amy Hagstrom Miller, CEO of Whole Woman’s Health, a group which prerforms abortions, stated the following: “Today the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on the side of politics, NOT women’s health. And what we have been fearing is now official: Texas faces a health care crisis, brought on by its own legislators”. Senator Wendy Davis, the Democratic candidate for the November election described the new anti-abortion law as “an intrusion”. She continued: “Women should be able to make these deeply personal decisions without the intrusion of politicians like Greg Abbott, who supports making abortion illegal even in cases of rape and incest.
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Jeniffer Dalven, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union stated the following, in regard to the ruling: “This is a devastating day for Texas women”. She also added that the decision completely ignores the opinions of medical and health care experts, who believe that this new law will not benefit women. Many of Texas’ abortion clinics have already closed. The new law expects the doctors performing the abortions to have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles of where the procedure is being performed. Most of Texas’ abortion clinics will operate as ambulatory surgical centers and they will be expected to make significant upgrades to reach the new standards. Both state and national mainstream medical organizations opposed the new law, including the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.