Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/19pdf/18-1323_c07d.pdf
Page Number: 88.0

Cite as:  591 U. S. ____ (2020) 

7 

ALITO, J., dissenting 

with  admitting  privileges  and  can  therefore  make  a  run-
ning  assessment  of  their  competence.    See  Record  11850. 
The Board, on the other hand, conducts an inquiry before 
initially  issuing  a  license,  but  the  annual  license  renewal 
process  entails  nothing  more  than  completing  a  standard 
form,  paying  the  required  fee,  and  documenting  a  certain
number of continuing medical education credits.  See 46 La. 
Admin. Code, pt. XLV, §417 (2020). 

Because hospitals continue to evaluate doctors after priv-
ileges are granted, they may discover information that as-
sists the Board in carrying out its responsibilities.  In the 
past,  hospitals  have  forwarded  such  information  to  the 
Board, and such referrals have led the Board to take serious 
disciplinary actions.3 

The record shows that the vetting conducted by hospitals 
goes far beyond what is done at Louisiana abortion clinics.
Some clinics demand nothing more than possession of a li-
cense.  Take the example of petitioner June Medical.  Doe 
3, the only person at that clinic who evaluates applicants, 
testified that he does not perform background checks of any
kind, not even criminal records checks.  App. 249–250.  In 
the past, Doe 3 hired a radiologist and ophthalmologist to
perform abortions.  Id., at 249. 

Delta Clinic in Baton Rouge and Women’s Clinic in New 
Orleans have similarly lax practices.  Leroy Brinkley, the
president  of  both  clinics,  testified  before  a  Pennsylvania
grand jury that, in making hiring decisions, “ ‘I don’t judge
the license.  If they have a license and the state gave the 
license, it’s not for me to determine if they are capable.’ ”4  A 

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3 Brief for 207 Members of Congress as Amici Curiae 18–19 (lifetime 
ban from obstetric surgery in Louisiana); id., at 19–20 (one-year proba-
tion of medical license). 

4 Brief for Louisiana State Legislators as Amici Curiae 8–9; App. to id., 

at 67a.