Kentucky Could Become First State Without Abortion Clinic

Eric Scheiner | September 7, 2017
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Kentucky could become the first state without an abortion clinic depending on the outcome of a federal trial.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin says the EMW Women's Surgical Center in Louisville, is failing to meet state health regulations.

Earlier this year, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services informed the clinic its license was deficient.

WDRB-TV reports, on Wednesday, attorneys for Bevin, the EMW Women's Surgical Center and Planned Parenthood began their court testimony.

Brigitte Amiri, an attorney with the ACLU, claims what's at stake is whether Kentucky becomes the first state in America without an abortion clinic.

"We would be in a situation that's unprecedented. No state in the Union has no abortion clinic. That has not happened, and we intend not to let it happen here," Amiri told reporters.

Bevin's administration told the clinic it was not meeting state health regulations requiring abortion clinics to have transfer agreements with local hospitals and ambulance services in cases of medical emergencies.

State regulators said those conditions are safeguards that protect women's health, but the clinic argues the requirements are an unconstitutional barrier to abortion because they lack "medical justification."

Stephen Pitt, an attorney for Bevin, said he is only interested in protecting the health and welfare of Kentucky women.

Those opposed claim Bevin only wants to create barriers for women seeking abortions.

What happens in the trail is being watched closely as it could set the precedent for other states.

Click here for more from WDRB.

 

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