Thirteen abortion clinics across Texas will close immediately after the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit sided with Texas.
The ruling required all clinics to provide same building, equipment and staffing standards as hospital-style surgical centers. This puts the number of clinics in Texas to eight, where only Houston, Austin and two other metropolitan cities are able to provide services. No abortion providers will be available west or south of San Antonio.
The three-judge panel came to an agreement that there was insufficient evidence that a “large fraction” of women are seeking abortions, causing them to face an “unconstitutional burden” due to the requirements and closings.
“This decision is a vindication of the careful deliberation by the Texas Legislature to craft a law to protect the health and safety of Texas women,” said Lauren Bean, a spokeswoman for Greg Abbott, the Texas attorney general.
The decision is only temporarily; the clinics could reopen as the case proceeds.
