Gov. Bobby Jindal and the state Department of Health and Hospitals announced late Monday night that they would be rescinding the state’s new emergency rules for abortion clinics, which were put into place last November.
The regulations would have placed new square footage requirements on the clinics and required the hiring of more specialized staffers.
According to a blog from the New Orleans Abortion Fund, the “burdensome” and “excessive” requirements would lead to the closure of all five abortion clinics in Louisiana.
DHH press secretary Olivia Watkins said in an email that the reason the rules were withdrawn was because there were problems with the wording of the proposed changes.
“We withdrew the rules and the emergency rule in order to correct the language governing the licensure of outpatient abortion facilities before proceeding,” Watkins said in an email.
Rebecca Stewart, president of Feminists in Action at LSU, said in a Facebook message she is pleased by the DHH’s decision to rescind, and the rules were repealed because of the “overwhelming opposition to these unnecessary, counter-productive regulations.”
FIA describes itself as an organization promoting feminist awareness and activism on the LSU campus and in the Baton Rouge community.
Stewart also said the regulations “have zero medical necessity” and “would have had a detrimental impact on Louisiana women.”
The DHH announced in a news release that the department would issue a revised rule and notice of intent at a later date. Once a new notice of intent has been filed, a new public hearing will be scheduled to receive public comments.
English freshman Alayna O’Connor, a member of the University’s student group Students for Life, said she thinks the break will help the pro-life cause.
“I think it’s enough time to get our act together and more time to come back with a more powerful argument,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor said she and her organization will spend the time praying and “asking God for words and information to relay our side.”
Stewart said she hopes the DHH will not attempt to pass any further regulations without proper public notice.
“The so-called “emergency” regulations were most likely retracted due to the overwhelming opposition to these unnecessary, counter-productive regulations.”

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Richard Redmann

The Delta Clinic is located at 756 Colonial drive in Baton Rouge. See Writer on details Please