Maryland Orders Abortion Clinics to Close During Coronavirus Crisis, Abortions are Not Essential

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Mar 24, 2020   |   7:57PM   |   Annaplois, Maryland

Add the state of Maryland to the list of states saying abortion centers must close down their abortion businesses under an order that all medical centers stop performing elective, non-essential surgeries to conservative medical resources for the coronavirus battle.

Other governors have issued similar orders limiting non-essential medical procedures. Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Ohio included abortion facilities in their bans on non-essential surgeries and procedures. However, Ohio abortion facilities are refusing to comply while abortion centers in Louisiana have compiled with the order and closed. The status of abortion businesses in Texas and Mississippi is unknown.

In a letter to the state health department, pro-life state Delegate Dan Cox asked whether the order for the stoppage of non-essential medical procedures applied to abortion centers:

Delegate Cox received a response back indicating that, yes, the order for stoppage applied to all licensed medical clinics — which would include businesses that kill babies in abortions.

Whether abortion centers in Maryland comply with the order is another question, and pro-life advocates in the state may have to monitor abortion clinics for compliance. But Cox told officials with Maryland Right to Life that he believes abortion centers are closing, or have already closed.

“I can’t thank the Governor and Secretary Neall (Dept. of Health) enough for their prompt response and leadership decision to protect life by responding to our letter requesting closure of Maryland’s elective abortion clinics. Effective immediately today at 5 p.m. they are closed indefinitely. During this time, please report any violations as noted in the letter,” he said.

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Maryland Right to Life told LifeNews.com that pregnancy centers across the state stand ready to help pregnant women in need.

“Maryland Right to Life wishes to thank Delegate Dan Cox for hearing our plea that a letter be sent to Governor Hogan to formally request the closing of all elective abortion clinics. Today, in compliance with current COVID-19 guidelines, Governor Hogan and Secretary Neall have agreed to do just that,” it said. “Please spread the word that pregnancy centers throughout Maryland are working to provide women in crisis with essential services and support.”

Meanwhile, other states specifically exempted abortion facilities, allowing them to continue aborting unborn babies through the crisis. Pro-abortion Democrat governors in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Washington state carved out exceptions for abortion in their state mandates for the coronavirus.

Abortion businesses also are open in California and Pennsylvania, despite their governors’ bans on non-essential medical care. LifeNews reported about similar situations in Illinois, Maine and Puerto Rico last week.

Abortions are not life-saving, they are life-destroying. An unborn baby is killed, and its mother’s life is put at risk. Common abortion complications include infections, blood clots, hemorrhaging and an incomplete abortion where parts of the baby remain inside the mother’s womb. Abortion risks include future preterm births, breast cancer, suicide, anxiety/depression, and death. And it simply is not true that abortions are safer than childbirth. Mothers who cannot get abortions are not unhealthy as a result. They become mothers of newborn babies.

During this global pandemic, the world should be focused on doing everything it can to save lives, not kill them.