LANSING – The 5-3 Supreme Court decision to abolish
controversial Texas rules on abortion clinics could overturn similar laws in
Michigan, according to the state’s Planned Parenthood representatives.

“I think we have a good case now,” Amanda West,
a director of government relations for Michigan Planned Parenthood, said.
“Women’s health access to abortion cannot be restricted based on the
opposition’s claims to women’s health.”

In 2012, the Michigan state house passed a bill called
H.R. 5711 that obligated surgical licensing requirements for abortion providers.
Advocates assured that the bill, later becoming law, made abortion clinics
safer.

West said the nullification of the Texas law could help
women in parts of Michigan where abortion services are not found.

“There are gaps in access for women that are north
of Saginaw in this state,” she said. “So with this [Supreme Court
ruling] I think we can see women having more access.”

However, opponents believe the requirements were meant to
restrict admittance to abortions.

“Many of the clinics in Michigan had never been
inspected,” Right to Life Michigan President Genevieve Marnon said.
“Short of the doctors medical license and whatever implementation they
wanted to use with regard to best practices and sanctioning on their license,
but the clinics themselves were not inspected.”

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder did not address the Supreme
Court decision for Michigan abortion clinic law yet.

“The governor’s office is still reviewing the
Supreme Court opinion,” Anna Heaton, a spokesperson for the Governor,
wrote. “But the Texas law does not seem to be substantially similar to
Michigan’s. We can’t speculate on whether lawsuits will be filed based on this
ruling.”