Board of Health,

Do not lower surgery clinic standards. Please.Besides the loss of a babys life, and it is life shortly after egg and sperm meet, there is physical and emotional trauma to a woman for the procedure called an abortion.What is so cavalierly referred to as "choice", is a decision to end a life. A very young life, just as valuable as, but not allowed to become, an honors student, blue collar worker, professional, doctor, or entertainer. With the availability of birth control, abortion should not be so used, but is. It should be performed under safe conditions. That the decision is taken should carry with it informed consent, and some assurance of safety standards. It is a procedure, equivalent to surgery with inherent risks. The risks increase with the age of the foetus and the need for local or general anesthesia. Any complicating medical condition requires on hand the life sustaining equipment, and personnel to ensure safe recovery and continued good health.Some abortion facilities might have closed because they could not, or opted not to meet the new standards. However, to roll back standards would be an insult to what women should reasonably expect to give them dignity. Dignity they deserve for opening themselves to this procedure, whatever the motivation.I have read the report of lack of sanitation, blood spattered equipment, and walls, rats, roaches, and filth seen in some abortion facilities. Women, and the men in their lives deserve that the high standards be maintained for their safety, and for the sense of dignity and respect they will certainly need to heal following the procedure.Please keep the standards and do not turn back the clock on the women of Virginia for the sake of saving money, or hoped for popularity. AEJD