A Mississippi bill placing requirements on doctors who perform abortions may shutter the state’s only abortion clinic.
The state senate passed a bill April 4 that would require any doctors performing abortions to be a board-certified OB-GYN with admitting privileges at a local hospital.
The owner of the clinic, Diane Derzis, said that all of her doctors are board certified, but only one has admitting privileges locally. That’s because those doctors live out of state for fear of being threatened or stalked, and local hospitals rarely give admitting privileges to out-of-state doctors.
“It takes a real commitment to women’s health at great personal sacrifice,” Derzis told the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, pro-life Miss. Gov. Phil Bryant is expected to sign the bill as soon as it gets to his desk. In a statement, the Republican reiterated his strong feelings on the subject.
“This legislation is an important step in strengthening abortion regulations and protecting the health and safety of women,” Bryant said in a statement. “As governor, I will continue to work to make Mississippi abortion-free.”
Meanwhile, other Republican lawmakers said the measure is neither pro nor anti-abortion. Sen. Dean Kirby, chairman of the public health committee, said the bill seeks to make abortions safer.
“This doesn’t make any reference as to whether abortions are legal or illegal in Mississippi,” he told the news Web site Gant Daily. “None at all. It just says you will be a board certified OB-GYN and have an admitting hospital.”