By The Sleuth ​Journal
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The Ohio Department of Health revoked the operating license of the last remaining abortion clinic in the city of Dayton. Pro-life advocates applaud the move, but pro-choice organizations are planning to appeal the decision.

The Women’s Med Center of Dayton had its operating license revoked due to a failure to obtain a required transfer agreement with a nearby hospital for emergencies. Ohio state law prohibits public hospitals from participating in transfer agreements with abortion clinics, and the clinic did not provide enough physicians for backup care, a factor for which many pro-choice supporters blame on pro-life intimidation tactics.

One pro-life group called Created Equal has handed out flyers in physicians’ neighborhoods, calling the doctors “killers” and protesting the hospitals where doctors have admitting privileges.

The closure of the Women’s Med Center leaves only nine clinics remaining in the state. Supporters of the clinic blame intentionally targeted legislation for the revoked license. Jennifer Branch, the clinic’s attorney, told the Associated Press that the state health department was fine with the clinic using two backup doctors for emergencies until 2015, when they demanded the number be upped to three.

“Other ob/gyn’s in the community saw what was going on and didn’t want to be part of it,” Branch said. “Since then, they’ve operated with three back-up doctors and haven’t had any problems.”

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