Women deserve the best care and the highest standards for care. I strongly urge the state to promote strong standards of health, cleanliness and proper function.  Abortion center regulations are essential for the health and safety of Virginia women and must be maintained, not weakened. 

The suspension of operations at a Fairfax abortion facility due to 26 health and safety violations proves that the regulations are working and must be preserved as is, not watered down. Some abortion advocates have cloaked themselves in "ProChoice" camoflage while inflicting harm and substandard care on women at perhaps their most vulnerable time of their lives. Many have fought regulation for years, yet repeatedly independent inspectors find serious deficiencies, even during announced inspections. Abortion centers should not self-regulate.

Virginia women deserve nothing less.”The argument that good standards for abortion clinics will deprive women of their rights could be said by any back alley provider, or any doctor who wanted to open shop in his office and do abortions.  

As a physician I have seen many instances of poor care and substandard conditions that have resulted in injury, infection and physical/emotional trauma. These instances were so emotionally draining and traumatic that they were rarely reported, but the women affected did not deserve this low standard of care. 

 If these facilities are open and operate, they are surgical centers. They are more than endoscopy suites. They are more than private physician offices. They are surgical facilities that should operate accordingly. We cannot use the "access" argument when it means women's health.