Court Allows Shreveport Abortion Clinic to Stay Open
(PRESS RELEASE) Late this morning, a state court in Louisiana ruled that Shreveport abortion clinic Hope Medical Group for Women can stay open until its legal claims are resolved. The Center for Reproductive Rights appeared with Baton Rouge lawyer J.E. Cullens, Jr. in a court hearing before the 19th Judicial District Court, requesting that the judge grant a preliminary injunction to block the recent suspension of the clinic’s license.
“We are pleased that we can continue our 30-year history of providing quality abortion care to the women of Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas,” said Robin Rothrock, founder of Hope Medical Group. “Our doors are back open and we welcome the opportunity to continue to provide quality services to the community.”
Last week, the Center filed a challenge to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospital’s decision to suspend Hope’s license. The lawsuit claims that the department’s actions were unnecessary and unconstitutional. On September 3, the health department suspended the health facility’s license despite the fact that the staff had promptly corrected most of the alleged violations, and the remaining violations involved record-keeping issues that Hope Medical was never given the opportunity to correct.
“We are very pleased that the court recognized the threat to Hope’s constitutional rights, and that the state had not established an imminent threat to patient health or safety,” said Janet Crepps, deputy director of the U.S. Legal Program at the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Hope Medical is represented by Crepps of the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Louisiana attorneys J.E. Cullens, Jr. and John Hodge.