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| Mississippi's sole abortion clinic effectively shuttered by new state law | Mississippi's sole abortion clinic effectively shuttered by new state law |
| (8 days later) | |
| Barring a last minute legal reprieve, Mississippi's only abortion clinic will be forced to turn away patients starting Monday, a move it says will push some vulnerable women into the hands of backstreet operators. | Barring a last minute legal reprieve, Mississippi's only abortion clinic will be forced to turn away patients starting Monday, a move it says will push some vulnerable women into the hands of backstreet operators. |
| Owners of the Jackson Women's Health Organization say they intend to open up like any other day. But under new rules seemingly designed to make Mississippi an abortion-free state, physicians will not be able to carry out terminations without first being registered as a practitioner with privileges to admit patients to a local hospital. | Owners of the Jackson Women's Health Organization say they intend to open up like any other day. But under new rules seemingly designed to make Mississippi an abortion-free state, physicians will not be able to carry out terminations without first being registered as a practitioner with privileges to admit patients to a local hospital. |
| None of the doctors at the clinic currently meet that requirement, which has been described by pro-choice campaigners as "medically unjustified". | None of the doctors at the clinic currently meet that requirement, which has been described by pro-choice campaigners as "medically unjustified". |
| As a result, the centre – which has been running for 17 years in the face of threats, protest and opposition from religious conservatives in the state – will be forced to cancel all procedures. | As a result, the centre – which has been running for 17 years in the face of threats, protest and opposition from religious conservatives in the state – will be forced to cancel all procedures. |
| "We have made the application for the privileges but it is a lengthy process and we are yet to hear if we have been successful," Diane Derzis, owner of Jackson Women's Health Organization, told the Guardian. A federal lawsuit has also been filed in a bid to buy the clinic more time. | "We have made the application for the privileges but it is a lengthy process and we are yet to hear if we have been successful," Diane Derzis, owner of Jackson Women's Health Organization, told the Guardian. A federal lawsuit has also been filed in a bid to buy the clinic more time. |
| Derzis claims that the new requirement – which was scheduled to go into effect on July 1 – was designed explicitly with the intention of forcing her clinic out of business and had little to do with the safety of patients. | Derzis claims that the new requirement – which was scheduled to go into effect on July 1 – was designed explicitly with the intention of forcing her clinic out of business and had little to do with the safety of patients. |
| Doctors at the centre note that the number of women who experience a complication during an abortion that requires treatment at a hospital is extremely low – fewer than 0.3% according to the sexual health thinktank the Guttmacher Institute. | Doctors at the centre note that the number of women who experience a complication during an abortion that requires treatment at a hospital is extremely low – fewer than 0.3% according to the sexual health thinktank the Guttmacher Institute. |
| In any case, the clinic has an agreement with a local physician who will admit one of their clients should the need arise. | In any case, the clinic has an agreement with a local physician who will admit one of their clients should the need arise. |
| "There has been no subtlety here, they are proud of the fact that the law would make Mississippi abortion-free," Derzis said. | "There has been no subtlety here, they are proud of the fact that the law would make Mississippi abortion-free," Derzis said. |
| Certainly, top officials in the state have made no secret about wanting to shutter the centre . | Certainly, top officials in the state have made no secret about wanting to shutter the centre . |
| Republican governor Phil Bryant has said on a number of occasions that he doesn't want abortions carried out in the state. | Republican governor Phil Bryant has said on a number of occasions that he doesn't want abortions carried out in the state. |
| "If it closes that clinic, then so be it," Bryant said in April as he signed the new requirements into law. | "If it closes that clinic, then so be it," Bryant said in April as he signed the new requirements into law. |
| The move will force those seeking terminations to travel hundreds of miles and cross state lines to have the procedure performed legally. | The move will force those seeking terminations to travel hundreds of miles and cross state lines to have the procedure performed legally. |
| The next nearest clinics to Jackson are approximately three hours drive away, with most neighbouring states requiring a mandatory waiting period and some, such as Louisiana, requiring two trips. | The next nearest clinics to Jackson are approximately three hours drive away, with most neighbouring states requiring a mandatory waiting period and some, such as Louisiana, requiring two trips. |
| Derzis believes that if her clinic is to close it would lead to a rise of vulnerable women going to non-registered abortionists. | Derzis believes that if her clinic is to close it would lead to a rise of vulnerable women going to non-registered abortionists. |
| "There is no question about it, some women are going to do whatever it takes," she said, adding: "This doesn't affect women with money so much, it is the women who are poor, with no resources that will suffer." | "There is no question about it, some women are going to do whatever it takes," she said, adding: "This doesn't affect women with money so much, it is the women who are poor, with no resources that will suffer." |
| Mississippi, one of the poorest states in America, also has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy – more than 60% above the national average. | Mississippi, one of the poorest states in America, also has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy – more than 60% above the national average. |
| Figures from the state's health department reveal that 2,297 abortions were performed in the state in 2010. | Figures from the state's health department reveal that 2,297 abortions were performed in the state in 2010. |
| The vast majority of these terminations were carried out by doctors at the Jackson clinic. The centre, opened in 2002, also offers state-mandated counselling services for clients, some of whom decide to continue with their pregnancies. | The vast majority of these terminations were carried out by doctors at the Jackson clinic. The centre, opened in 2002, also offers state-mandated counselling services for clients, some of whom decide to continue with their pregnancies. |
| Last week, in a last ditch effort to save the clinic, the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights filed a legal challenge to the new rules at a federal level. | Last week, in a last ditch effort to save the clinic, the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights filed a legal challenge to the new rules at a federal level. |
| But as of Sunday evening, neither the centre nor Jackson clinic itself had been informed of any reprieve. | But as of Sunday evening, neither the centre nor Jackson clinic itself had been informed of any reprieve. |
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