Women’s health clinic closes in Savannah

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - After over 40 years, the Savannah Medical Clinic has closed.

According to a person with the clinic, to their knowledge, it was the only healthcare provider in Savannah that offered surgical abortions by choice.

No further comments were given on the closure.

WTOC spoke with Lauren Frazier, the director of communications and marketing for Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates. Atlanta is likely the closest place in Georgia where women can go for a surgical abortion by choice.

Frazier says all four planned parenthood centers in Georgia offer the medication abortion, not surgical abortions but she knows there are other providers and resources in Atlanta that offer surgical abortion.

Planned Parenthood has a new patient navigator who can help people find the resources and services they need even if they don’t offer them, including in other states. They’re also directing people to the website abortionfinder.org according to Frazier.

If/when the Georgia Heartbeat law goes into effect, Frazier says Florida, Illinois, Virginia, and North Carolina are the closest states to Georgia where someone could get a legal abortion after a heartbeat is detected.

Last week, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, allowing individual states to make decisions regarding abortion laws. Georgia leaders have asked a judge to overturn a ruling keeping the state’s Heartbeat Law from taking effect.

Again, the clinic would not comment on the closure, when they closed or why.

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