Mississippi's already strict abortion laws have become even tighter after Gov. Phil Bryant signed a bill that will place new regulations on the state's only abortion clinic.
Effective July 1, the new law says anyone performing abortions in an abortion clinic must be an obstetrician-gynecologist who has admitting privileges at a local hospital. The Republican governor signed the bill Monday.
Such privileges aren't easy for doctors to obtain, particularly for those who live out of state or because some religious-affiliated hospitals may refuse to provide the privileges to physicians who perform elective abortions.
Diane Derzis, who runs the Jackson Women's Health Organization, says the requirements threaten the clinic's existence. She says the clinic will try to comply with the new regulations but she will file a lawsuit if it can't.
© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.