New Women's Health and Safety Act will 'probably close' North Alabama's only abortion clinic

A bill placing strict new standards on Alabama abortion providers is likely to shut down the only abortion clinic in North Alabama.

Dalton Johnson, administrator of Alabama Women's Center for Reproductive Alternatives at 612 Madison St. in Huntsville, said there is "no way" he can create extra-wide hallways and other building upgrades mandated by House Bill 57.

"It requires clinics to be like a miniature hospital," Johnson said Friday. "It's going to pretty much probably close us down. I'm letting my staff know that it's a possibility."

But Johnson said his clinic - and four others in Birmingham, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa and Mobile - will likely challenge the constitutionality of the "Women's Health and Safety Act." The bill passed the Republican-controlled state House and Senate late Tuesday night, and Gov. Robert Bentley has said he will sign it into law.

"If we go down," said Johnson, "we're going to go down fighting."

http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/04/new_womens_health_and_safety_a.html#incart_river_default