A judge has ruled that Oklahoma can require doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital under a law that takes effect Nov. 1.
Oklahoma County District Judge Bill Graves ruled Friday against a legal challenge on behalf of a Norman clinic that performs nearly half of the abortions in the state.
Attorneys for Dr. Larry Burns say the law could force him to shut down his practice. They say he's applied for admitting privileges at 16 hospitals without success. His practice performs about 44 percent of abortions in the state, and is one of only three in Oklahoma.
But Graves denied the request for a temporary injunction that would have put the law on hold.
Burns' attorneys plan to appeal.
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