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Strahorn Takes Issue with State´s Decision to Close Dayton
Women´s Health Clinic
Special to The Truth
House Democratic Leader Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton) took issue
with the
decision last week by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to
revoke the operating license for the Women´s Medical Center
of Dayton.
"I believe women have the constitutional right to make their
own personal health care decisions in consultation with
their physician and their families," said Strahorn. "Not
only does this decision jeopardize that fundamental freedom
and right, but it stands on shaky legal ground by using
questionable policies that have been drawn into
constitutional question by Ohio courts and the U.S. Supreme
Court."
The state says the health care facility didn´t qualify for a
variance from a 2013 Ohio transfer agreement restriction - a
hurdle
that
has been struck down twice
as unconstitutional by Ohio courts.
Similar restrictions were also ruled unconstitutional by the
U.S. Supreme Court in Whole
Women´s Health v. Hellerstedt. Attorney General Mike DeWine
is currently appealing the latest Ohio court order.
The Women´s Medical Center of Dayton has been meeting
changing demands from ODH regarding the number of back-up
obstetricians needed for a variance from Ohio´s 2013
restrictions,
but a recent doctor
harassment and intimidation campaign made it difficult to
meet a new arbitrary four-doctor threshold from ODH,
said Strahorn..
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