Kentucky hospital cuts ties to Planned Parenthood

The University of Louisville Hospital in Kentucky has ended its emergency transfer agreement with Planned Parenthood in the state.

The hospital has not released its reasons for the move, but it comes shortly after news of the abortion affiliate’s legal battle with the state. The administration of Republican Governor Matt Bevin has filed a lawsuit against Planned Parenthood for allegedly performing abortions at a facility that lacked the proper licensing to do so.

Thomas Clay, an attorney for Planned Parenthood, claims that the University made the decision not because of his organization’s deficient medical practices, but because state officials placed “incredible pressure” on them to do so, including a threatened loss of state funding.

However, a Bevin spokesman vehemently denies the allegation, saying, “Planned Parenthood is making baseless and irresponsible accusations to distract from the undeniable fact that they performed unlicensed abortions without the essential agreements in place to protect women’s health. No one in this administration put any pressure on anyone.”

Bevin also recently signed a bill strengthening Kentucky’s informed-consent law, which now requires women seeking abortion to have a live medical consultation either in-person or via video chat 24 hours beforehand.