Abortion clinic in Houston shut down by state

An abortion clinic in Houston, Texas has been shut down by the state and a doctor's license suspended, the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Department of State Health Services has revoked the license of A Affordable Women's Medical Center and the Texas Medical Board has temporarily suspended the license of Dr. Theodore M. Herring Jr., the facility's medical director and only abortion doctor. Between November 6 and February 7, Herring reportedly performed approximately 268 unlawful abortions.

The shutdown of the clinic and suspension of its doctor were done under a new state law that requires physicians who perform abortions to hold admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their facility.

Disciplinary actions against the abortion clinic and the doctor were first taken by state authorities when the law went into effect Nov. 1, 2013. Later this month, additional hearings will be conducted regarding the disciplinary actions.

"This is part of a statewide effort, through medically unnecessary provisions, to drive providers out of business," said Fatima Gifford, a spokeswomen for Whole Women's Health, one of the plaintiffs in an unresolved legal challenge to the law. "Between clinics forced to shut down and actions like this, the law is having a huge effect on access to abortion."

On the other hand, Joe Pojman, executive director of Texas Alliance for Life, praised the state agencies for enforcing the law as the legislature intended.

"This will protect the health and safety of women seeking abortion in Texas, and we hope that this will send a message to other abortion providers that none of them are above the law," he said.