Court Ruling Might Effectively Close Most Abortion Clinics in Louisiana

A federal appeals court ruled against abortion clinics Wednesday by allowing a Louisiana law to take effect that requires doctors who provide abortions to have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles.

A police officer from the counterterrorism department stands guard outside Planned Parenthood on November 30, 2015 in New York City. Andrew Burton/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS— A federal appeals court ruled against abortion clinics Wednesday by allowing a Louisiana law to take effect that requires doctors who provide abortions to have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a federal judge’s ruling that had found the admitting privileges unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge John deGravelles in Baton Rouge last month barred Louisiana officials from enforcing the mandate. DeGravelles has not yet ruled on the state’s abortion law itself, though he heard arguments about it in June.

Supporters say the law’s provision requiring admitting privileges at area hospitals is meant to protect women’s health. Opponents say it’s meant to make it essentially impossible for women to get abortions and would do just that.

When a similar law passed in Texas, women were forced to drive hundreds of miles, leave the state, or take matters into their own hands

— Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America