To the Virginia Board of Health,

Statement # 1

 The restrictions placed upon abortion providers by the previous administration (12 VAC 5-412) have done much to protect women from poor medical procedures and sanitary conditions.  In fact, two substandard abortion facilities, Nova Medical Clinic in Fairfax County and Hillcrest Clinic in Norfolk, caused unnecessary injuries to women during such medical procedures.  The Nova Clinic was particularly unsatisfactory as they had cases of women having to undergo emergency hysterectomies and hospitalization for multiple days.  The restrictions imposed by 12 VAC 5-412 has succeeded in closing these substandard clinics while raising safety and medical standards for all other abortion providers.  I urge you to maintain the restrictions embodied in 12 VAC 5-412 to include all the 2010 Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities.    

Statement # 2

 I urge you to maintain the high medical standards imposed by the Regulations for the Licensure of Abortion Facilities (12 VAC 5-412) along with all the 2010 Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities.  The relaxation of the aforementioned laws and regulations are harmful because abortion clinics will no longer be held to hospital grade medical standards.  Relaxing such medical and construction regulations will expose women to the increased possibility of infection, injury, and even death.  Please act to protect Virginia’s women by refusing to relax the requirements imposed by 12 VAC 5-412.

Statement # 3

Abortion has always been a contentious issue within our society.  Despite the strong diverse feelings on this subject, there is one issue that everyone agrees upon – that of protecting woman’s health.  The surgical procedures conducted at abortion clinics throughout Virginia carries with it a level of danger to the women.  Unfortunately, women are often injured or killed during abortion procedures conducted in substandard facilities.  For this reason, it is of utmost importance to maintain the highest medical standards for all abortion providers.  The regulations imposed by 12 VAC 5-412 acts to protect women’s health and lives at abortion clinics.  Relaxing any portion of these regulations can expose women to life-long injuries and death.  I strongly urge you to help protect women by maintaining all the provisions associated with 12 VAC 5-412 and the 2010 Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities.