Kentucky Republican Governor Files Lawsuit to Close Down an "Unlicensed" Abortion Clinic in Lexington

By Staff Writer | Mar 04, 2016 09:23 AM EST

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin filed a lawsuit on Wednesday seeking to close down an abortion clinic in Lexington. The filed lawsuit in Fayette Circuit Court claims that the said abortion is unlicensed and an anonymous complaint was sent to the state office regarding the clinic's operation. 

Governor Matt Bevin's general counsel, Steve Pitt and the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services lawyer, Jennifer Wolsing filed the 10-page lawsuit on Wednesday, Lexington Herald Leader reported. It stated that the Eubanks & Marshall of Lexington or EMW Women's Clinic continues to operate without a secured licensed at 161 Burt Road, off Nicholasville Road.

The lawsuit also says the state launched an investigation after it received an anonymous complaint about the clinic in February. Two cabinet investigators visited the facility on Feb. 17 and interviewed a medical assistant.

Aside being unlicensed, court documents aslo stated, the Lexington clinic maintained expired medicine and wasn't clean. The suit added, it doesn't have a required agreement with an ambulance service, ensuring that a patient may be transferred to a hospital if an emergency occurs during an abortion, Reuters reported.

The said clinic is among the Kentucky's three active clinics that offer abortion operations. The Governor also sued Planned Parenthood last month, claiming its clinic in Louisville is an unlicensed abortion clinic, according to WKYT. However, Planned Parenthood responded that they have proper license with the authorization of the previous governor.

It is also the second time Bevin, who took office in December, has gone after what his administration said was an unlicensed abortion clinic in Kentucky. Governor Bevin, a Republican, ran for governor on an anti-abortion platform. In February, he signed an informed consent law that requires women to consult with a doctor before having an abortion.

The Family Foundation in Lexington spokesman, Martin Cothran, praised current governor's administration "for doing what previous administrations said they were doing but weren't, acting to protect the health of women."

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