PENSACOLA, FL – A license for an abortion clinic serving women from across the southern United States was suspended this weekend by emergency order of Florida health officials after two women who underwent procedures at the clinic were hospitalized this year.
The state health agency has ordered the suspension of the U.S. family planning license in Pensacola beginning Saturday.
In cases cited by the agency, the clinic did not monitor patients all the time, did not provide medical records when patients were transferred for greater care, and did not contact patients within 24 hours after they left the clinic to assess their recovery. . , said in an order that was issued on Friday.
It said the problems were operational deficiencies that “threatened the health, safety and well-being” of the clinic’s patients, and the clinic did not submit timely incident reports to the government agency.
In one case, clinic staff urged a patient’s husband to take her to a hospital in Mobile, Alabama, rather than to the nearest hospital in Pensacola, which had a transfer agreement with the clinic that postponed her treatment. At Alabama Hospital, the woman needed resuscitation, and she needed a transfusion to replace the blood loss, according to an emergency order.
In another case since March, the patient was taken to the emergency department of Pensacola Hospital with bleeding and low blood pressure. She needed emergency surgery, and the surgeon performed a hysterectomy. Last year, a third patient needed restoration of uterine perforation, according to an emergency order.
“Women who have abortions must receive the level of assistance and services provided by law,” the emergency order said.
The clinic has the right to hear the decision.
The woman, who says she works in the clinic’s planning service, answered her phone on Sunday, but said there was no one there who could tell about the emergency.
Because of its historically less restrictive laws, Florida has long been considered a “safe haven” for women from neighboring states who wish to have an abortion. The clinic reports on its website that it serves women from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia.
Although Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed law last month, legislation banning most abortions after 15 weeks, Florida’s abortion law will still be less restrictive than in neighboring states if the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Rowe vs. Wade.
