'We have closed a chapter': Tuscaloosa women's clinic resumes services without abortions

A refocused West Alabama Women’s Clinic is back in operation.

After a nearly two-week hiatus following the June 24 U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade, which allowed state-issued abortion bans to take effect, the Jack Warner Parkway clinic has reopened with a renewed focus on treating unwanted pregnancies.

Now, the goal is to stop unwanted pregnancies before they happen, said Robin Marty, operations director for West Alabama Women’s Clinic, which reopened July 11.

“We wanted the state to see very clearly that we have closed a chapter,” Marty said, “and that we’re making sure we’re following every letter of the law.”

Not only does that mean the West Alabama Women’s Clinic is no longer performing elective abortions, but it also is no longer referring women to legal abortion services in other states.

Miscarriage treatments are still available, though only in specialized circumstances when no fetal cardiac activity can be detected.

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Marty said the clinic, which opened in 1993, opted to stop referring women out-of-state because the legal question of whether offering this kind of assistance would be illegal under Alabama’s “Human Life Protection Act” remains in doubt.

The near-total ban on abortion, as adopted by the Alabama Legislature in 2019, makes it a felony – punishable by 10 to 99 years in prison – for anyone who performs an abortion.

State Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, has commented via social media that, now that this Human Life Protection Act is in effect, assisting a woman to get the procedure in a state where abortions remain legal could be a prosecutable felony, as well.

“Not only can anyone, even the woman seeking the abortion, be prosecuted, but also anyone can be prosecuted for conspiracy if they help someone either get or even plan to get an abortion in another state,” said England, who also serves as chair of the Alabama Democratic Committee, via Twitter on June 24.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has said his office is reviewing this claim.

But while this legal quagmire gets decided, Marty said the West Alabama Women’s Clinic is focusing on improving access to contraception and other pregnancy-preventative services.

On Friday, the clinic is hosting a walk-up and “pay what you can” booth for women seeking the “ella” emergency contraceptive.

According to Planned Parenthood, ella is an emergency contraception that prevents pregnancy up to five days after sex by halting the ovulation process.

But while it is found to be more effective in women who weigh more than 165 pounds and other morning-after pills, like Plan B, patients need a prescription to obtain it.

Marty said patients can schedule appointments anytime to see a physician at the West Alabama Women’s Clinic for an ella prescription, but Friday’s walk-up event will allow anyone who needs it to come and go without an appointment.

And for those who cannot afford the full price, they’ll be able to pay whatever amount they can, Marty said.

“For people who are not insured or underinsured or on Medicaid, there’s not very many options for people to get free birth control,” Marty said. “And abortion bans, unfortunately, don’t have that much effect when it comes to people wanting to terminate unwanted pregnancies.”

The clinic also has transitioned to a non-profit organization – meaning donations to help its operations are now tax-deductible – and it’s also teamed up with the Selma-based Knights & Orchids Society, an organization that formed in 2012 to help provide health and wellness for transgender, lesbian, bisexual and gay Black people across the southeastern United States, to provide inexpensive, out-of-pocket annual exams for those who need them.

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The West Alabama Women’s Clinic also is prepared to work with patients who become pregnant and help them obtain Medicaid services. While uninsured women who find themselves pregnant can get covered by the government-funded insurance service, it requires a doctor-certified “confirmation of pregnancy” to become active. Marty said the women’s center can provide that and assist the newly pregnant woman in finding a local Medicaid-based doctor.

“So, yes,” Marty said, “we’re going to be busy.”

Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: West Alabama Women's Clinic resumes services without abortions