Mississippi Lawmakers Approve Abortion Regulations To Stop ‘Coat-Hanger Abortions’

Mississippi lawmakers have approved a bill requiring doctors performing abortions “to be a board-certified OB-GYN with admitting privileges at a local hospital,” a measure that could significantly hamper Jackson Women’s Health, the state’s sole abortion provider. Clinic owner Diane Derzis told the Associated Press that while all of the physicians on her staff are OB-GYN certified, most live out-of-state and just one “has admitting privileges to a local hospital.” “We’re going to be fighting to the very end,” she said, noting that her doctors are frequently harassed by anti-abortion advocates. One proponent of the measure — Senate Public Health Committee Chairman Dean Kirby (R) — argued that the new regulations would improve women’s safety, despite any evidence of it being in danger in the first place. “That’s what we’re trying to stop here, the coat-hanger abortions,” Kirby said, referring to the abortion clinic. “The purpose of this bill is to stop back-room abortions.” Gov. Phil Bryant (R) is expected to sign the bill into law within days.