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Planned Parenthood will continue operations under new law

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – After attempts to shut it down, the Lafayette Planned Parenthood clinic said it has a new license to stay open.

Under the law, SEA 546, which took effect Wednesday, a license is required by the Indiana State Department of Health for clinics that provide only nonsurgical abortions. The Lafayette clinic is the only facility in the state to offer this procedure.

Last year, a law that would have restricted services at the clinic was ruled unconstitutional in federal court. Planned Parenthood President and CEO Betty Cockrum said the law would have required the Lafayette health center to meet the same standards for surgical abortions, even though the clinic does not provide that type of service.

“SEA 371, was a targeted attempt aimed at ending access to safe, legal abortion by trying to shut down a Planned Parenthood health care center that also provides preventive care to more than 4,000 women and men each year,” Cockrum said in a news release “We’re grateful to the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana for demonstrating the irrational basis for that law.

Planned Parenthood said the clinic will operate as normal. Cockrum said they will continue to provide breast cancer screenings, PAP tests and STD testing.

“Women in the Lafayette area will continue to have the safe and legal option of nonsurgical abortion available to them, along with PAP tests, breast cancer screenings, birth control, STD testing and treatment and annual wellness exams,” said Cockrum. “We’ve been providing health care to the Lafayette community for more than 40 years, and we’re proud to continue to do so.”