Kentucky may close last abortion facility in state ‘based on patient safety’

The Courier-Journal reported yesterday that Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin has “ordered the EMW Women’s Surgical Center in Louisville to stop providing abortions starting Monday, claiming it lacks proper agreements for patient care in the event of a medical emergency.”

The Louisville abortion facility is the sole remaining abortion facility in the state. Last year, EMW Women’s Clinic in Lexington was shut down for operating without a license, but patient safety was also an issue. Live Action News’ Danny David wrote last August:

[The] Cabinet for Health and Family Services… reportedly discovered the clinic was operating without a license, in what they described as unsanitary conditions – including dust on equipment. Kentucky state law requires all full-time abortion facilities to be licensed.

Attorneys for the abortion clinic argued that the law does not apply to EMW, since they claim it is a women’s health clinic which also offers abortions. But EMW’s co-founder, Ernest Marshall, has testified that most of the clinic’s work is abortions….

In that case, the Kentucky Supreme Court upheld an injunction against the Lexington abortion facility, forcing it to remain closed.

The issue with the Louisville facility, says the Courier-Journal, is “transfer agreements.” State law requires that abortion facilities have these arrangements “with hospitals and ambulance services should a medical emergency arise for a patient.” According to a state inspector, EMW’s agreements “are deficient and don’t adequately protect patients.”

EMW is joined by the American Civil Liberties Union in opposing the state’s decision to shut down the facility unless it can comply with state law.