Repro Roundup: Kentucky appeals court upholds a law stating the only abortion clinic in the state must obtain admitting and ambulatory services

Welcome to my column, The Repro Roundup, in which I summarize abortion news happening around the country, why it matters, and what you can do about it — in 250 words or less.

What’s the issue? Friday, an appeals court upheld a 1998 law that requires abortion clinics in the state to obtain a written agreement with a local hospital and ambulance service, according to the Washington Post. There is only one remaining clinic in the state, the EMW Women’s Surgical Center (which is also one of six clinics in the country that is Black-owned) and in 2017 decided to take the law to court. The Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky joined the suit as well. The clinic now has to apply for a waiver every 90 days in order to stay open.

Why does this matter? This suit aimed to prove to the state that the law’s sole purpose was to block abortion access, not protect women. Admitting privileges and ambulatory services do not, in fact, protect women who obtain abortion care. Abortion is extremely safe; safer than giving birth, safer than knee replacements, safer than wisdom-tooth removal. None of the outpatient medical facilities that provide services like these, however, are required to obtain admitting privileges. Laws like this fall into the category of “TRAP Laws,” targeted restrictions of abortion providers, with the intent to regulate abortion clinics and providers to death. Like all abortion restrictions, this hurts patients, especially low-income, women of color, and LGBTQ+ patients.

What action can I take?

• Donate to the EMW Women’s Surgical Center, and independent clinic and one of six Black-owned clinics in the country
• Clinic escort at EMW with the Louisville Clinic Escorts
• Support the Kentucky Health Justice Network, which provides: Financial assistance, a language accessible hotline, language interpretation, lodging, and travel. Shop their store
• Support the Kentucky A Fund, INC., which provides financial assistance
• Learn more about TRAP laws from Guttmacher
• Read more about how admitting privileges do not make abortion safer from ANSIRH

• Subscribe to The Repro Queen of DC, my monthly newsletter on abortion access, activism, and writing on the frontlines of DC.
• Subscribe to Repro 101, a seven-week educational email series about all things repro. Topics include the basics of funding abortion, clinic escorting, anti-choice violence, and more.
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