Thread by @DubyaWife

So this is a really big deal and I need everyone to pay attention. 1/
#TalesFromTheClinic #ProChoice #ReproductiveRights

Louisiana could lose two abortion clinics this week and here's why...

(with gifs)

thinkprogress.org/supreme-court-…

In Louisiana a law was created for "a physician performing or inducing an abortion” to “have active admitting privileges at a hospital that is located not further than thirty miles from the location at which the abortion is performed..." 2/

If this law sounds familiar that's because Texas did the exact same thing but it was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2016. 3/

This is common practice among legislators to try to copy pasta a law and hopefully at least one state slips through creating precedent. (ex: MS abortion ban) 4/

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (which is Lousisiana, MIssissippi and Texas) upheld the law because basically they know that SCOTUS is now conservative heavy and are hoping SCOTUS either a) won't do anything or b) affirms. 5/

In the very least what SCOTUS should do is "stay" this decision and here's where this is really important... 6/

If SCOTUS doesn't stay (push back) decision of Fifth Circuit then the law goes into effect Feb 4th. Which means the three clinics (Shreveport, Baton Rouge, New Orleans) - two of them may have to shut down operations bc they don't have doctor's w hospital admitting privileges. 7/

"Well why don't they just get doctors w admitting privileges?"

So "admitting privileges" actually means the doctor is like a staff member of that hospital. Which means they have privilege to admit patients for a stay in the hospital without the say-so of any other doctors. 8/

Problem is hospitals don't want to become involved in abortion politics, they regularly refuse admitting privileges to doctors who perform abortions.

And particularly in Baton Rouge the second highest ranked hospital (in the state) is a *Catholic* hospital. 9/

So if you are a doctor and you want admitting privileges to that hospital for your own practice as a OBGYN - also doing abortions will quickly lose you that ability. And if your patients want to use that facility... welp, you've lost some of your customers. 10/

Anti-abortion activists say the justification for this is if a patient suffers complications they'll need to go to the hospital. But complication rates are very low - "occurring less than 0.25% of the time, about the same frequency as colonoscopies." 11/

ucsf.edu/news/2014/12/1…

And guess what, doctor's who perform colonoscopies don't have the "admitting privilege" requirement.

So why aren't their laws for that? Hm???

12/

And if a patient does have complications after abortion services all they need to do is go to ANY hospital and they HAVE TO be granted services. So there's really no reason for the doctor to have admitting privileges. Except that they want to stop abortions. 13/

Feb 4th is a week away.

My local clinic that I volunteer at, may have to shut down abortion services until SCOTUS intervenes. For 3 years I've volunteered there. Rights are being stripped away. It will affect people's jobs, careers, their lives...

My heart is breaking... 14/

I've talked with these patients. I've hugged them when they cried. I've been a friendly face when are surrounded by hate and ignorance (protesters). It's a personal choice, a hard one.

But it's...

their.

gotdam.

choice.

15/

Patients drive from all over the south just to come to the clinic in Baton Rouge. They have to take off work. They have to save up money. They have to sacrifice just to get a legal, SAFE reproductive service. 16/

If SCOTUS doesn't stay this ruling - patients will have to drive farther, spend more money.

Or worse - do something unsafe. 17/

Restricting abortion laws doesn't prevent abortions, it prevents SAFE abortions. 18/

I usually end my threads with "what you can do to help." Unfortunately for this - it was decided in 2016. Two conservative judges were appointed to SCOTUS since then. And one more *may* happen before the end of this horrible administration. Hopefully not. 19/

However, in 2018 we elected more Dems, pro-choice candidates than ever before. We need to keep doing that.

Support a pro-choice president, support pro-choice state legislators, support pro-choice local leadership, support pro-choice businesses. 20/

And finally, RT the fuck out of this.

Two out of three abortion clinics in an entire state (Louisiana) may close down next week. That's a big fucking deal.

(end)

Update: Stay was granted until February 7th. The clinics are open until we hear more then.

Update: It's almost 8pm CST on Feb 7th and we haven't had any word from #SCOTUS if nothing happens 2 clinics close tomorrow.