Knoxville Abortion Clinic Closes After 38 Years

A Knoxville, Tenn., abortion clinic closed August 10 because it did not have a doctor with admitting privileges at a local hospital, Baptist Press reports. The Volunteer Women's Medical Clinic was forced to shut down after a state law requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges took effect July 1, meaning the clinic was no longer able to provide abortions without an approved physician. The facility could no longer meet its financial obligations because of an inability to see patients, said the center's owner, Deb Walsh. "I'm so angry about this, and sad," said Walsh, who had worked at the clinic for more than 30 years. The center had been open for 38 years, she said. Pro-life advocates welcomed the closure, which reduced the number of abortion clinics in Tennessee to eight. "Protective pro-life legislation saves lives," said Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life.