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Judge: 2 Ohio Abortion Clinics Can Stay Open During Appeal

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CINCINNATI (AP) – A federal judge has ruled that the last two abortion clinics in southwest Ohio can remain open while they fight to keep their state operating licenses.

The Ohio Department of Health informed Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio and Women’s Med Group on Friday that variances had been denied for the Cincinnati and Dayton clinics.

On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Barrett ordered the state not to suspend the facilities’ licenses until the appeals process is completed.

A variance grants special state permission to operate without a required transfer agreement with a nearby hospital in cases of emergency.

The state said the facilities had lined up three doctors to substitute for a hospital and needed a fourth. The clinics’ attorney said the four-doctor requirement has never before been applied.