As a professional nurse, I am concerned about the potential negative impacts of the regulations on women's health centers proposed by Gov. McDonnell. Disguised as "protecting women's health" this is clearly just a move to limit access to safe, legal abortion : and I oppose all such restrictions on reproductive freedom.

A high standard of care is currently provided by women's health centers. This is proven by their impressive safety record. Abortion is one of the safest medical procedures. Overregulation will limit access to a wide range of preventive reproductive health care services provided by women's health clinics, including life-saving cancer screenings, family planning, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.

It is my hope that the regulations will be amended to be based purely on medicine and science and should not impede women's access to essential health care.