TRI In The News
Board OKs New Abortion Clinic Regulations
9/16/2011
TRI IN THE NEWS: BOARD OKS NEW ABORTION CLINIC REGULATIONS
From CBS 6
Original article available here.
The Virginia Board of Health has approved temporary regulations for abortion clinics in the state.
Proponents say the new rules will protect woment's health. Opponents argue that the changes will put many clinics out of business.
The board voted 12-1 Thursday to pass the temporary regulations, which will remain in effect while permanent regulations are developed.
James Edmondson, the only member voting against the regulations, offered a series of unsuccessful amendments aimed at relaxing the draft regulations, especially for existing abortion clinics. He said afterward that he believes the regulations as written would put some clinics out of business.
The board spent three hours discussing the regulations after a 90-minute public hearing in which 32 people spoke, about two-thirds of them in opposition.
The General Assembly passed legislation last winter requiring that clinics performing at least five first-trimester abortions per month be regulated like hospitals.
Thursday morning, the board heard public comment on the temporary regulations. Dozens of people packed the meeting space, some holding graphic signs, while one after the other, advocates on both sides of the issue shared their opinions of the regulations for the allotted hour.
"These women deserve at least the same level of regulatory oversight as those in place for patients generally," said Rita Dunaway,an attorney with the Rutherford Institute, a non-profit group based in Charlottesville that describes itself as being "dedicated to religious liberty".
Patrick Hurd, CEO of Planned Parenthood Eastern Virginia called the proposed regulations excessive, stating they, "single out abortion providers treating us [abortion providers] in a discriminatory manner based upon politics, not sound medical science or historical practice."
Before the change, clinics were required to meet the same standards as doctors' offices that perform invasive procedures like colonoscopies.
The draft regulations specify the types of equipment and supplies that must be maintained. They also give facilities two years to comply with certain architectural standards.
If approved, the emergency regulations will remain in effect while permanent ones are drafted.
Women's rights advocates came out in full force Wednesday at the Richmond convention center and at VCU to protest the legislation.
They believe the new regulations will place reproductive healthcare in jeopardy and that the legislation will force some clinics to shutdown.
"But we're hoping tomorrow [Thursday] they will amend the regulations to reflect sound science and public health policy rather than be swayed by politics", says Catherine Grennier with the Virginia Coalition to Protect Women's Health.
Meanwhile, pro-life advocates say the regulation is necessary because as it stands, state abortion clinics have no regulations like hospitals do.
"Think about going to a hospital and doing something like a kidney transplant. Imagine if that hospital wasn't regulated by the government of the state of Virginia? This is making sure they're regulated", says Jackie Anderson with Students for Life of America.
