ADF: No free pass for abortionists who won't follow basic health, safety laws

WHO: Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys

WHAT: Available to media after oral arguments in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt

WHEN: Wednesday, March 2, immediately following oral arguments, which begin at 10 a.m. EST

WHERE: Outside U.S. Supreme Court, 1 First St. NE, Washington

WASHINGTON – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys will be available for media interviews Wednesday following oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt.

ADF filed a friend-of-the-court brief last month with the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of five groups representing thousands of physicians and other medical professionals who support the women’s safety law at issue in the case, Texas House Bill 2.

 

“Abortionists should not be given a free pass to elude medical requirements that everyone else is required to follow,” said ADF Senior Counsel Steven H. Aden. “The 5th Circuit was on firm legal ground in its decision, and we have asked the Supreme Court to affirm it. The law’s requirements are common-sense protections that ensure the maximum amount of safety for women.”

 

“Women deserve to have their health and safety treated by government as a higher priority than the bottom line of abortionists,” added ADF Legal Communications Director Kerri Kupec. “Any abortion facilities that don’t meet basic health and safety standards are not facilities that anyone should want to remain open.”

 

ADF filed its brief in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt on behalf of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Pediatricians, the Christian Medical & Dental Association, the Catholic Medical Association, and Physicians for Life.

 

Specifically, the brief addressed the medical foundation for two provisions of the law that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit upheld: a provision that requires abortion facilities to meet the same basic health and safety standards as other kinds of ambulatory surgical centers, and another provision that requires abortionists to have admitting privileges at a local hospital in the event a woman must seek hospital care due to post-abortion complications.

 

The brief urged the Supreme Court to uphold the 5th Circuit’s ruling and “affirm that the quality of medical care provided to women seeking abortion should not be any lower than the quality of care provided to women undergoing similar invasive procedures. The health and safety of all women should not be compromised.”