The case involves a Texas law, House Bill 2, that implements safety standards for abortion clinics that match up with the regulations of other surgical clinics.

The standards include requirements to uphold quality of care, cleanliness and safety, proper staffing and safe laboratory services. For example, the law requires hallways to be wide enough for gurneys to transport women into an ambulance.

The law also requires abortion clinic doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic.

Those who oppose the law say it's an "undue burden" on women and a way to restrict access to abortions.

They believe the extra expense to implement the safety standards will cause abortion clinics to close.

In fact, opponents say the Texas legislature's goal in passing the law was to shut the doors of abortion clinics and "single out abortion for heightened medical regulation."

Texas says its law is a way to prevent what happened at the clinic of late-term abortionist Dr. Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia.

A jury convicted Gosnell of three counts of murder for killing three infants born alive by cutting their spinal cords with scissors.

He also was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 41-year-old immigrant who died from a drug overdose during a botched abortion. (Photo via The Blaze)
 
In addition to the murder convictions, Gosnell was found guilty on 21 felony counts of performing illegal abortions and 211 counts of violating the 24-hour informed consent law.

Investigators described his clinic as a "house of horrors," with bloodstained walls, unsterilized medical equipment and fetal remains stored in the employee refrigerator.

In Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, the Supreme Court will consider if the regulations outlined in the Texas law pass the "undue burden" standard expressed in Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992).

The "undue burden" test bans states from putting into effect abortion regulations before viability—regulations that have the "purpose or effect of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion."

The Court determined viability to be 23-24 weeks gestation because of medical advances.

Texas says there is enough evidence that the regulations under its law are vital to promote the health and safety of women.

With the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, the Court could tie 4-4, which would uphold the appeals court decision in favor of the Texas law.

A conservative or liberal justice would have to break ranks to avoid a tie.

"Abortionists should not be given a free pass to elude medical requirements that everyone else is required to follow," said Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Steven H. Aden.

"The 5th Circuit was on firm legal ground in its decision, and we have asked the Supreme Court to affirm it. The law's requirements are common-sense protections that ensure the maximum amount of safety for women," Aden said.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

'Absolutely a Miracle': Teen Hiker Rescued after Falling Off Cliff in Georgia While Taking Picture

Bill Gates Funnels Hundreds of Millions of Dollars to Sink Twitter If Elon Musk Restores Free Speech

Report: World Health Assembly Unlikely to Pass Pandemic Treaty, but Biden Amendments Surrendering Sovereignty Are on the Table

Top GOP Candidates Running for Michigan Governor 'Victimized' by Flawed Petitioners Yielding Thousands of Invalid Signatures; Now Ineligible for Ballot

Use 'Gene-Giver' or 'Stork,' Not 'Mother,' Says Science Teachers Association

Biden Admin: K-12 Schools Must Put Boys in Girls' Bathrooms to Get Federal Lunch Money

'Don't Take a Second for Granted. Hug Your Family. Tell Them You Love Them': Details Emerge of the Some of the Children Killed in the Texas School Shooting

'May the Lord Be Near the Brokenhearted': Horror, Heartache and Heroism in Texas School Massacre

Heroic Border Patrol Agent With a Gun Ended Texas School Shooter's Murderous Rampage

Chris Pratt, Katherine Schwarzenegger Welcome Their Second Daughter: 'We Feel Beyond Blessed'

'I Was Going to Do Anything...to Protect These Kids': Gentle, Petite Teacher Hailed Hero after Tackling School Intruder

Years after Suicide Attempt, Here's the Urgent Message This Missionary Has for Fellow Black Americans

NASA Says 'Something Weird' Is Going on in the Universe

Washington Post Admits 'Voting Is Surging in Georgia' Despite Previous Reports, Claims About Voter Suppression

Maine Department of Education Removes Kindergarten LGBT Lesson from Website Following Backlash

'Swift Backlash': Following a Corporate Memo Leak, State Farm Says They're Discontinuing Support for 'GenderCool' Project That Would've Donated Trans Agenda Books to 5-Year-olds

'War Zone' at US-Mexico Border 'Worse' than What I Saw at Poland-Ukraine Border, Says Senator Roger Marshall

PRAY: 'Horrific Tragedy'; 14 Children, 1 Teacher Killed in Texas Elementary School Shooting; Suspected Gunman Also Killed

Ukraine War Kids, 'Forgotten Children' to Taste Joy at Summer Camps

'Miracle' Landing: Florida Pilot Passes Out; Passenger with No Flight Experience Takes Over with 'Hand of God'