Staff Report

Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jerry Metz upheld a ruling Aug. 15 that could lead to the closure of the Lebanon Road Surgical Center, also called Women’s Med Center. The Sharonville facility offers abortion services and is the only facility in the area to offer late-term abortions.

Judge Metz upheld a previous decision by the Ohio Department of Health to order the clinic closed because it is operating in violation of Ohio law without a transfer agreement with a local hospital. The facility had its license revoked in October of 2013. The Ohio Department of Health further denied a variance and the facility has been engaged in court battles to remain open ever since.

The recent ruling means Judge Metz stay will expire this week. The clinic has 30 days to appeal to the First District Court of Appeals. The facility could close this week temporarily or permanently depending on whether an appeal is made.

If no appeal is made in 30 days, Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati (RLGC) reports that the clinic is likely to close. A release by RLGC also stated there are unconfirmed reports the Women’s Med Center was scheduled to be close anyway during the next few weeks.

“Judge Metz has now protected women’s health and safety by enforcing lawful medical safety requirements,” said Paula Westwood, Executive Director of Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati. “We are cautiously optimistic, as we do not know whether Martin Haskell will appeal to the next court.”

There are two other facilities in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati that provide abortions. One is the Planned Parenthood on Auburn Ave. in Cincinnati, and the other is the Women’s Med Center in Dayton. Both of those clinics continue to operate while engaged in legal proceedings concerning whether or not they will remain open.

Posted Aug. 18, 2014