The Supreme Court is expected to announce a decision on Louisiana’s Act 620 sometime in the next few weeks. The controversial Louisiana law, called the “Unsafe Abortion Protection Act,” requires doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic.
The case, which was argued before the Supreme Court earlier this year, would help protect women from shoddy abortion practices and ensure that qualified physicians can seek immediate medical care and participate in this care should complications occur.
Louisiana has a long track record of unsafe abortions—with extensive health and safety violations. The requirement to have admitting privileges at a local hospital is a normative practice in medicine for outpatient surgical centers. But this is the first time this practice would be broadened to include all abortionists in the state.
Abortion advocates are in a near panic over the possibility that the Court could uphold the law. If they do, Louisiana has only one abortion clinic that could remain open.
According to NBC News, Louisiana Solicitor General, Liz Murrill, says that the abortion industry in her state hasn’t made any effort to try to obtain hospital admitting privileges for abortion doctors. To her, this only reiterated the need for the law to protect women because the clinics aren’t.
The neighboring state of Texas passed a similar law in 2013 that resulted in the closure of many of its abortion clinics and reduced the number of total abortions statewide.
What Can You Do?
1. Pray for the Court’s Decision: As the Supreme Court finishes its deliberations and writes its decision; pray that Justices would see the truth and rule to protect life.
2. Pray for Care Net Centers in Louisiana: Care Net has 22 affiliated centers across the state of Louisiana who may play a more critical role than ever in the lives of women and men facing difficult pregnancy decisions. Pray for the staff at these centers, pray that they would be fully resourced in every way, and pray that God will make them beacons of light and hope in their communities.
3. Support Care Net: Your support helps us reach people in Louisiana and across the country with the truth that every life is worthy of protection. Through our Pregnancy Decision Line, we empower parents to choose life and connect them to our centers. We also continue to work with churches, helping them make “Life Disciples” and connect with local pregnancy centers so parents can find long-term discipleship and support.
