Board of Health,

Without regulations and inspections, abortion facilities are free to focus attention on the maximization of financial returns of the business at the expense of the safety of the patient: cutting expenses that are necessary to keeping a competent staff, maintaining a sterile environment and emergency procedures, and complying with the laws of the State of Virginia. A facility that isnt able to meet the Department of Health regulations should not exist in our State. The facilities that do meet state standards should be pleased to prove such to the inspectors. The abortion industry is not part of a free market economy where knowledgeable consumers have the ability to evaluate a facility. How can women (and our young daughters) in our State who face an unwanted pregnancy and who seek an abortion be assured that the facility is as safe as possible unless regulations and inspections are in place and active" Abortion was legalized in significant part by the pressure to eliminate the tragic consequences of unregulated abortion. The removal of the regulations and inspections will give rise to an industry not fit to serve the women of our state.

Dear Members of the Board of Health,

Please maintain strong abortion center regulations. Since the regulation process began, health department inspectors have uncovered hundreds of health and safety violations. An especially troubling revelation was made at the Roanoke Medical Center for Women, where inspectors documented that a 16 year-old and two 14 year-old girls had abortions without documented parental consent. The abortion industry has fought regulation for years claiming it can regulate itself, yet repeatedly independent inspectors have found serious deficiencies, even during announced inspections. Abortion centers are not able to self-regulate. Abortion is not healthcare because it ends lives instead of healing them. However, since abortion operates under the guise of healthcare, abortion centers must adhere to the regulatory standards of other healthcare facilities. Simply, Virginia women and minor girls deserve nothing less. Thank you for considering my perspective on this important matter. Joyce Allen