The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned away an emergency application asking it to block a Texas law that requires doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, The New York Times reported. A third of Texas' abortion clinics will stay closed after the U.S. Supreme Court determined in a 5-4 vote, allowing a key restriction in effect while it is under legal challenge, The Houston Chronicle reported.
A panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed with District Judge Yeakel who issued an injunction in October "to halt the admitting-privileges requirement," news reports said.
"Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy did not write separately or join any opinion Tuesday, but because it takes five votes to overturn the appellate ruling, it is clear that they voted with their conservative colleagues," The Associated Press reported.
Planned Parenthood and other Texas abortion clinics said in their lawsuit to stop the measure that "would force more than a third of clinics in the state to stop providing abortions. After the appeals court allowed the law to take effect, the groups said that their prediction had come to pass," The AP added.
"in just the few short days since the injunction was lifted, over one-third of the facilities providing abortions in Texas have been forced to stop providing that care and others have been forced to drastically reduce the number of patients to whom they are able to provide care. Already, appointments are being canceled and women seeking abortions are being turned away.," Planned Parenthood said in a statement.
A spokeswoman for the Texas Attorney General's Office said Tuesday said the office is "pleased" with the Supreme Court's ruling.
"This is good news both for the unborn and for the women of Texas, who are now better protected from shoddy abortion providers operating in dangerous conditions," said Governor Rick Perry.
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