Judge allowing abortion clinic to stay open - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

The doctors at Mississippi's only abortion clinic cannot face criminal civil punishment as they try to comply with a new law.

That's the ruling handed down by U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan III late Friday evening.

The law requires anyone who does abortions at the clinic to be an Ob-GYN with privileges to admit patients to a local hospital and Jordan ruled it will be allowed to take affect.

However, the clinic can remain open while the doctors try to obtain those privileges.

Jordan says the case is "a fluid situation."

If two out of state physicians at Jackson Women's Health Organization aren't able to get those admitting privileges, it could impact the issues in the case.

Supporters of the new law say it's constitutional and qualified doctors shouldn't have an issue at area hospitals.

Any physician worth anything should be able to get admitting privileges at one of our local hospitals within about 90 days," says Spokesperson for Pro Life Mississippi Tanya Britton.  

The Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents the Jackson Women's Health Organization, issued a statement shortly after the ruling saying in part... "Today's decision has ensured, for the time being, that anti-choice politicians in Mississippi cannot relegate the women of their state to a second class of citizens that can be denied their constitutional rights with the stroke of a legislator's pen."

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