BATON ROUGE, LA - Amid reports that the June Medical Services (d/b/a
Hope Medical Group) abortion clinic in Shreveport is ignoring the Louisiana
Department of Health’s Notice #2020-COVID19-ALL-007 suspending the performance of all elective
medical procedures and surgeries in Louisiana, Attorney General Jeff Landry
issued the following statement:
“COVID-19 is a public health emergency in Louisiana,
with thousands of our State’s people contracting the virus and over 100
unfortunately succumbing to the illness,” said General Landry. “The LDH order
is necessary and reasonable as it helps prevent further spread of infection and
preserves vital medical supplies for our brave medical professionals on the front
lines in this fight against COVID-19.”
“While healthcare workers actually treating Coronavirus
patients are experiencing severe shortages of Personal Protective Equipment,
June Medical is irresponsibly still operating business - dangerously putting countless
people at further risk,” continued General Landry. “Not only should June
Medical and all of Louisiana’s abortion providers comply with the public safety
order, but they should also follow the generous lead of other medical
facilities and donate their supplies to local hospitals who are in desperate
need.”
“Just this week, the
Governor warned that ‘we’re seeing a troubling sign in northwestern
Louisiana’,” concluded General Landry. “June Medical is once again putting
their profits over the health and safety of the public. I hope the Governor's
Secretary of Health will recognize that elective abortions are not essential
procedures and enforce the LDH order fully.”
The LDH notice applies equally statewide to all licensed
medical facilities and medical professionals under LDH authority, and it orders
the immediate postponement of all elective medical procedures and surgeries
that are not necessary to treat an emergency medical condition or immediately
necessary to prevent further harm to a patient. The order follows guidance from
the U.S. Center for Disease Control regarding elective surgeries at this time,
and it is similar to orders by state health departments across the country.