Debate rages as Ala. abortion clinic bill becomes law

• Alabama law requires physicians at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at local hospitals
• Those opposed to the law think it will limit access to abortions for poor women
• Supporters cite the strengthening of the standards of medical care in the law

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley signed a controversial law Tuesday mandating stricter standards for abortion clinics in the state.

The legislation, sponsored by state Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, a Republican from Indian Springs, Ala., requires physicians at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at local hospitals, forbids anyone but a physician from dispensing abortion-inducing drugs and requires clinics to follow building codes for ambulatory facilities, which mandates large hallways and other equipment.

At the signing ceremony, Bentley said he believed the legislation would protect women in clinics.

"This bill strengthens the standards of medical care," Bentley said. "It has also been endorsed by our pro-life groups across the state of Alabama."

Opponents of the legislation, however, say the equipment is medically unnecessary, and that no hospital is required to extend admitting privileges to physicians, even if they are qualified. Abortion providers who testified during hearings on the bill said it would force clinics to relocate or close down altogether.

Prattville, Ala., resident Bill Whitman opposes the law. He said organizations such as Planned Parenthood provide a whole range of services that give women of all ages and socioeconomic statuses the resources and education to make informed decisions about health, contraception and pregnancy.

He said women who can't afford to go out of state will be forced to keep the child or put it up for adoption, leading to more families struggling on government assistance programs.

"It propagates the entire system and throws people into poverty," said Whitman.

Jimmy Dobbs, director of the Montgomery, Ala.-based AGAPE, a child placing agency, said he and his organization are supportive of measures that ensure the health and safety of women. He said regulating the industry will make sure clinics that don't provide high-quality services will no longer operate.

"Abortions that happen without adequate counseling, options and services are deemed by us to not be in the woman's best interest," said Dobbs. "There are young women that get taken to abortion clinics and are forced in different ways to make choices — by parents, boyfriends and friends."

Other proponents say health and safety are the primary reason they support the bill.

"It makes sense to me, as a woman, that abortion clinics be held to similar standards as any other medical outfits," said Jessica Coleman, a Montgomery resident. "If the abortion clinics are truly here to serve women, they will remain. They might not make as much money, but they will remain."

Planned Parenthood Southeast has said it is considering legal action over the bill.

"All options are on the table" in terms of challenges to the law, said Nikema Williams, vice president of public policy for Planned Parenthood Southeast.

"What has been done today is putting politics before physicians," she said. "It's not medically necessary, and it will limit women's access to safe and legal abortions."

But others say the law is necessary.

"Having hospital privileges is something that, no matter what type of surgery you have, things can go wrong and things do go wrong," said Susan Decker Bunce, executive director of First Choice Women's Medical Center, an organization in Montgomery that provides pregnancy testing, ultrasounds and post-abortion support. "I'm thrilled (the bill) has passed."

Bunce said a woman once came to the center after she was given an abortion pill at a clinic. The woman felt like something was wrong, and then went to the restroom where she delivered the baby alive. Bunce said the authorities at the abortion clinic broke into the restroom, took the baby and it was never seen again.

"There are many times when we have to pick up the pieces from when they're at the abortion clinic," Bunce said. "For those that make the decision to have the abortion, that abortion will be much safer than it was before."

Sharanna Polk, a senior at Alabama State University, said Alabama is one of the poorest and least-educated states in the country, and further restricting options for women, especially poor women, when they get pregnant will only further perpetuate poverty.

"Women of means will always have a way to obtain their abortions, and taking away a poor woman's constitutional right to choose will lead to back-alley abortions," said Mia Raven, of Montgomery. "What Alabama needs is not trap laws, but truthful sex education along with affordable and easy access to contraception."

Lorie Mullins, director of the Cope Pregnancy Center in Montgomery, said she doesn't understand why anyone would be upset about requiring a doctor performing a surgical procedure to have admitting privileges at a hospital.

"They're just asking that abortion clinics have the same kind of oversight and inspections that any other surgical or medical facility would have," Mullins said. "It's a basic health and safety issue."

Contributing: Brian Lyman, Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser