Trial begins for Kentucky’s last remaining abortion clinic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WTVQ)- A judge in Louisville is hearing arguments from Kentucky’s last remaining abortion clinic as well as the Bevin administration.

The case, which pits a woman’s right to access an abortion against what the Governor says is patient safety has the potential to make Kentucky the first state in the U.S. with no abortion provider.

A federal judge heard arguments for the first time today from Louisville’s EMW Women’s Surgical Center who is fighting to stay in business after Governor Bevin’s administration took action to revoke their license to provide abortions citing concerns with patient safety.

Lawyers for the clinic are arguing the Governor’s enforcement of a state law requiring clinics have what are called “transfer agreements” with a hospital and ambulance service, creates an unconstitutional obstruction to women’s right to get an abortion in Kentucky.

Counsel for Governor Bevin, an outspoken anti-abortion advocate, are arguing the law is necessary to keep patients at clinics like this safe in the case of an emergency.

Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky join the EMW Clinic in this lawsuit, saying they too have been targeted by the Bevin administration and denied a license to provide abortions.

“We believe at planned parenthood that your rights and your ability to make your own medical decisions shouldn’t depend on your zip code or where you live. we refuse to allow politicians to take us back and won’t ever stop fighting for our patients right to care and that included safe and legal abortions,” said Ali Slocum, with Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky.

If the state were to win and EMW is forced to close, Kentucky would become the first state in the country to have no abortion providers.