Board of Health,
Virginia should hold abortion facilities to the same medical standards as any other medical facility performing equivalent procedures. Abortions are surgical procedures; poor attention to sterility, lighting, ventilation, handling of waste and other health and safety matters places the lives of Virginia citizens and residents at risk. It is unthinkable that Virginia would hold abortion facilities to lower standards than other surgical facilities; such a disparity would endanger the lives of women. Please affirm Virginias current regulatory practice of holding abortion facilities to the same medical standards as other medical facilities performing equivalent procedures. Joseph Corrao