ABORTION: 13 Clinics Forced to Close in Texas

A federal appellate court decision on Thursday forced the immediate closure of 13 abortion clinics in Texas.

Under the ruling, all abortion clinics in the state must meet the same standards as hospital-style surgical centers in terms of building, equipment and staffing. Although the state maintains that those standards improve patient safety, those who run abortion clinics say that they are too costly and unnecessary.

The closures of the clinics overnight leaves Texas, which has 5.4 women of child-bearing age, with just eight abortion clinics in Houston, Austin and two other cities, but not a single one south or west of San Antonio.

Source: The New York Times