Clinic Challenges State Over Surgical Abortions During Pandemic

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 13, 2020

Little Rock, Ark. — On Monday attorneys for a surgical abortion facility in Little Rock issued a legal challenge over Arkansas’ directive against elective surgical abortions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Family Council President Jerry Cox issued a statement saying, “It is completely irresponsible to let elective surgical abortions continue during the coronavirus outbreak. Surgical abortions waste precious medical resources. We have ample evidence that women from neighboring states, including COVID-19 hotspots, are coming to Arkansas for abortions. Traveling like that increases the risk that people in Arkansas and elsewhere will be exposed to the coronavirus. If we want to slow the spread of coronavirus, we need to put a stop to surgical abortions for the time being.”

Cox said it is reasonable to hold abortionists to the same standards as other healthcare professionals. “Abortionists routinely say that abortion is just another healthcare procedure. If that’s true, then they ought to be willing to abide by the same standards as other clinics. Doctors all over Arkansas have been forced to postpone elective surgeries until this pandemic passes. Abortionists should have to follow the same rules.”

Cox applauded Governor Hutchinson, Attorney General Rutledge, Secretary of Health Dr. Smith, and Arkansas Surgeon General Dr. Bledsoe for their leadership during the COVID-19 outbreak. “Arkansas has excellent leaders. They have done a fine job slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Ordering abortionists to stop performing elective surgical abortions was the right call, and I’m confident the courts will agree.”

Cox said he believes the state will win this lawsuit. “Attorney General Leslie Rutledge’s team will do a fine job defending the state against this lawsuit. The Fifth Circuit has let Texas restrict abortion procedures to protect public health during this pandemic. I am confident that Arkansas will ultimately win this case.”

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Arkansas A.G. Warns Abortion Facilities to Stop Doing Abortions During COVID-19 Outbreak

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 10, 2020

Arkansas’ abortion facilities have continued performing abortions despite the COVID-19 outbreak and guidelines and directives from Governor Hutchinson and Secretary of Health Dr. Nathaniel Smith.

On Friday Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge issued a warning to all healthcare facilities in the state — including abortion facilities — that they must comply with the state’s public health directives by postponing surgeries that are not medically necessary.

“Arkansans must work together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic,” Attorney General Rutledge said in a written statement. “All medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures, including abortions, must be postponed until after this crisis has ended. Those who violate the Department of Health’s directive will be met with decisive action, and my office will forcefully defend the State officials involved in keeping Arkansans safe.” According to the A.G.’s statement, facilities that do not comply with the state’s public health directives could have their license suspended.

Family Council President Jerry Cox issued a statement praising Attorney General Rutledge, Governor Hutchinson, and Secretary of Health Dr. Smith for their leadership during the pandemic.

“This is the right thing to do,” Cox said. “I have personally driven by Arkansas’ abortion facilities this week. Their parking lots have been full of cars, and some of the vehicles have had license plates from out of state. Telling abortion facilities that they cannot perform elective abortions during this time will help preserve medical resources and slow the spread of the coronavirus.”

Family Council will continue to monitor and report on this situation as it develops.

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Arkansas Abortion Facilities Remain Open Despite Coronavirus Outbreak

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While the coronavirus outbreak has caused schools and businesses to close, Arkansas’ abortion facilities are still open.

Little Rock Family Planning Services — Arkansas’ only freestanding surgical abortion facility — shows on its website that its facility will continue to be open two to three days a week.

The website for Planned Parenthood’s facility in Little Rock shows that it will continue to be open on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

And this week Planned Parenthood Federation issued a statement on Twitter saying,

“Abortion is an essential and time-sensitive medical procedure — and it must remain so during this public health crisis. Delays or additional barriers to care can make it more difficult or even impossible for patients to access safe, legal abortion.”

While many doctors have closed their clinics or drastically reworked their schedules to help fight the spread of coronavirus, America’s abortionists appear to be doubling down.

Photo Credit: Planned Parenthood Sticker by dogra on Flickr.

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