FRC Asks Supreme Court to Make Abortion Centers Accountable to Health and Safety Standards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 5, 2016
CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Alice Chao, (866) FRC-NEWS or (866)-372-6397

Brief Demonstrates That Abortion is Not a “Safe” Procedure

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Family Research Council (FRC) has signed on to an amicus brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt asking the Court to uphold Texas regulations improving health and safety standards for abortion centers. The brief was filed on behalf of FRC and other interested parties by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).

"No one expects to see an ambulance pulling away from a dermatology or dental office. Yet ambulances are a frequent sight at abortion facilities," the brief observes.

Chris Gacek, FRC’s Senior Fellow for Regulatory Affairs, commented:

“The health and safety of women must remain at the forefront of the Supreme Court's decision. As Judge Edith Jones noted in her opinion for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in related litigation, Planned Parenthood has admitted that over 210 women require hospitalization annually after having an abortion in Texas. The National Abortion Federation itself recommends that abortion patients use a doctor who has admitting privileges at a hospital 20 minutes away or less.  In addition, the three-judge female panel noted that the Texas law being challenged ‘reduces the risk that abortion patients will be subjected to woefully inadequate treatment.’

"Women do not benefit when abortion facilities make up their own rules. The law enacted by the state of Texas requires abortion centers to have health and safety measures that are consistent with standards of care required at other health facilities. They are necessary, common sense measures needed to safeguard women’s health and safety,” Gacek concluded. 

To review the joint amicus brief, please see: http://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF16B11.pdf

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