Jackson Women’s Health Organization in Jackson, Miss. is the state's only abortion clinic. Bill dooms only Miss. abortion clinic

The owner of Mississippi’s only abortion clinic on Thursday accused Republicans of “hiding behind words like ‘safety’ and ‘women’s health’” in pushing a bill that is expected to become law soon that she says could shut down the facility and leave thousands of women without the option.

Diane Derzis, who owns the Jackson Women’s Health Organization in Jackson, Miss., told POLITICO in an interview that she believs the passage of a bill in the state Senate on Wednesday that would require all physicians performing in abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at a local hospital was directly targeted at closing down her clinic.


Mississippi’s H.B. 1390 is the latest of a number of recent measures in state legislatures across the country aimed at rolling back access to abortion, including a controversial measure in Virginia that Gov. Bob McDonnell signed into law last month which mandates women to undergo an ultrasound prior to getting an abortion.

“These people hide behind words like ‘safety,’ ‘women’s health,’ ‘concern’ and ‘compassion,’” Derzis said. “This kind of legislation – they bring [it] up every year. Up to this point we’ve jumped through the hoop.”

But this time, she fears the hurdle may be too great for her clinic to jump over. The facility currently has three physicians who are all board-certified OB-GYN, according to Derzis. However, only one of the doctors has “admitting privileges” to a local hospital, meaning once the bill is signed into law, the other two physicians will have to scramble to try to obtain these rights in order to continue their work.

If the doctors are unable to obtain admitting privileges, Derzis said she will sue the state of Mississippi. “If you mandate something that can’t be accomplished, I don’t believe that’s constitutional,” she said.

H.B. 1390 passed the state House earlier in the session and is expected to head to Gov. Phil Bryant’s desk as early as next week for his signature. Bryant, who has pledged to “make Mississippi abortion-free,” hailed the legislation as “an important step in strengthening abortion regulations and protecting the health and safety of women.”

Republican State Rep. Sam Mims, the author of the bill, told POLITICO Thursday that he is “very pleased” that the legislation is poised to become law.

“Mississippi members of the legislature are pro-life, and I believe that life begins at conception, and this legislation will cause fewer abortions in Mississippi,” he said. “Our state is historically one of the strongest pro-life states in the nation, and this new legislation will add to that.”

Asked about the Jackson Women’s Health Organization that could close as a result of the law, Mims said, “The intent of the legislation is to cause fewer abortions. So if the clinic in Jackson had to shut down, then I think it is a positive day for the unborn.”

Derzis said the bill is a representation of “what’s going on with the Republican Party nationally.”

“I think it’s time that people started waking up and start raising hell. This whole thing is a travesty,” she said.

According to Derzis, Jackson Women’s Health Organization performs over 2,000 abortions a year, and the three doctors that work there constantly feel as though they are being targeted.

“They’ve been stalked, threatened — that goes on daily. They’re very brave guys who are willing to ensure that the women of Mississippi have a choice, and we made a commitment many years ago that the clinic will be standing,” she said.

For the 58-year-old, preserving the one last clinic where the women of Mississippi can go to receive abortion services is a mission close to her heart. Derzis said she had an abortion in Birmingham, Ala., when she was just 19 years old.

“There were no clinics at the time — it was a local physician who was doing it before they were legal and it was a horrible experience,” she said. “I was young, stupid and I knew I didn’t want to have children at that point … But I’m thankful I was able to have a safe abortion.”

She added, “I’ve been in the field since then. I’m blessed to do what I do. It makes a difference in women’s lives.”