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Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville (The Huntsville Times file photo)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Rev. James Henderson, a leader of the anti-abortion community in Huntsville, has called a press conference for noon today to address what he described as Crestwood Medical Center's support of the "abortion industry."

Meanwhile, Crestwood said it doesn't perform abortions and has no ties to a local abortion clinic and threatened a lawsuit if "such inaccurate and inappropriate references to Crestwood Medical Center continue."

State Sen. Shadrack McGill, R-Macedonia, whose district includes Crestwood, will also speak at the press conference, Henderson said today. McGill has taken staunch anti-abortion stances since being elected in 2010.



Henderson said in his announcement that Crestwood has granted admitting privileges to two "abortion doctors." He declined to go into specifics today but said he would address the issue at the press conference.

Henderson said his group's "desire" is to "inform the community of a practice that goes against the prevailing values of the community so the families of north Alabama can make informed choices about where to seek health care."

Public protests will begin Oct. 21, Henderson said.

Crestwood released the following statement to The Huntsville Times/AL.com in response to Henderson's announcement:

"As we have said previously, when confronted with similar misstatements, we would like to reaffirm that abortions are not performed at Crestwood Medical Center. Further, there is no formal nor informal connection between the Alabama Women's Center for Reproductive Alternatives and Crestwood Medical Center. The hospital does not control what independent physicians, licensed by the state of Alabama, do or do not do in their private practice. We are deeply concerned with the gross mischaracterization of the services that are rendered at Crestwood Medical Center.

"Should such inaccurate and inappropriate references to Crestwood Medical Center continue, we will take the necessary legal actions available to us to protect the good name and reputation of the facility, its medical staff and its employees."