Mississippi

Dear ProLife Colleague, Pro-life and pro-woman medical principles are essential to emphasize in the struggle to oppose the killing of the unborn and the exploitation of their mothers. Last week we mentioned victories in Arizona and Alabama. This week it is Mississippi. One step at a time. From LifeNews.com: Mississippi Gov. Signs Bill That Could Make it Abortion Free The governor of Mississippi has signed a bill that would make the state the first in the nation to be without an active abortion business if the only one in the state can’t comply with the sensible new law he signed. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant on Monday signed a bill putting new requirements on the books for abortion practitioners who operate in the state. They would have to be certified in the state as an obstetrician-gynecologist with admitting privileges at a local hospital in case a botched abortion requires a woman to be immediately hospitalized. “This legislation is an important step in strengthening abortion regulations and protecting the health and safety of women,” Bryant said in a statement. “As governor, I will continue to work to make Mississippi abortion-free.” Gov. Bryant added: “I believe that all human life is precious, and as governor, I will work to ensure that the lives of the born and unborn are protected in Mississippi. This bill requires all physicians associated with an abortion clinic in Mississippi to be board-certified or eligible in obstetrics and gynecology. To further protect patient safety in the event of a complication during the procedure, this bill also requires the physician to have staff and admitting privileges at a local hospital.” The ability of pro-life laws to reduce the number of abortions and abortion clinics in a state is longstanding and some states like South Carolina, Missouri, Michigan and others have seen abortions drop to historic lows thanks to a variety of pro-life legislation stopping abortions, protecting women and protecting teen girls and parental rights. Mississippi is one such state and its laws have helped close all but one abortion center. The new measure has the potential to make it so the final abortion business may have trouble securing an abortion practitioner with such privileges. Diane Derzis, owner of the Jackson Women’s Health Organization abortion facility, has said she will challenge the bill in court if it becomes law. She told Reuters that only one of the three abortion practitioners it employs has admitting privileges at a local hospital because many hospitals refuse to provide admitting privileges to abortion practitioners.