Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Virginia Department of Health
 
Board
State Board of Health
 
chapter
Regulations for Licensure of Abortion Facilities [12 VAC 5 ‑ 412]
Action Amend Regulations Following Periodic Review
Stage NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 2/11/2015
spacer
Previous Comment     Next Comment     Back to List of Comments
2/5/15  6:25 pm
Commenter: Kathy Brown

Do not weaken current regulations of the abortion industry in VA
 

I would like to see the current regulations to stay as they are currently written, and certainly not weakened. Over 400 violations were found in the first initial round of inspections of Abortion facilities. That is a serious threat to the health of women seeking services at abortion clinics - inadequate sterilization, no sterilization until end of the week, dried blood on patient bed/chair where procedure is performed, parental notification was not documented for minors, untrained personal administering narcotics, etc. This must not be a political issue, but a serious health issue. I personally know one mother whose daughter died at an abortion clinic because they did not use the finger oxygen monitor and over-sedated her.  All people in VA expect a high standard of care from their physician whether they go to a family practice or abortionist office. You uphold the standards and these regulations were long overdue in our state. The other important thing to note is these regulations give women the right by law to view the ultrasound for medical information and disclosure.  I have heard from numerous women that they asked to see the ultrasound and were told NO at the abortion facility; IT was not allowed. We have to ask why this information was withheld. It is primarily financial reasons because the industry knows from many years of doing ultrasounds at pregnancy centers, that approximately 70% of women change their mind when they view the ultrasound and see the accuracy of the ultrasound technology. The patient will not go through with the abortion and the clinic will lose the income from the procedure. The important thing to note is these regulations do not stop abortions, they just put safety and some patient protection into the law. I urge no weakening of the current regulations on abortion facilities.

CommentID: 37958