Abortion Clinic Could Close

(AP) Tuscaloosa West Alabama Women's Center is suing the state over a regulation that could cause the facility to permanently close.

State health officials have implemented a regulation that requires abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a local hospital or a contract with a physician who does to handle patients with complications.  Susan Watson of the American Civil Liberties Union says the regulation is unnecessary.

This is not a new requirement. However, the issue lies in the fact that the clinic's previous physician retired, and the new doctor has been unable to gain admitting privileges or find a local gynecologist to take the contract.