Most if not all Abortion providers in Virginia may be forced to close their offices due to new Board of Health regulations previewed for the public last Friday. These regulations will be voted on September 15th by the Virginia Board of Health and then likely signed into law by the Governor before the end of 2011.
These regulations come as the result of legislation passed last February by the Virginia General Assembly stating that abortion providers, even for first trimester procedures normally done in a doctors office setting, must be regulated as and meet hospital standards. Concerns about the expense and burden this would put on providers was minimized by abortion opponents, but now these fears seem justified.
"Colonoscopies, dental surgery and plastic surgery are much more invasive than the abortions we provide, and they are not being asked to live up to this kind of strict regulation. That tells you right there that this is not about safety, it's about politics," Jill Abbey, director of several womens clinics state to ABC News. Abbey states that these new regulations will effectively close her offices and many others.
In a statement to ABC Ted Miller, a spokesman for Naral Pro-Choice America, said that none of the 21 clinics providing abortions currently meet the rigorous standards laid out in the draft regulation.
"Abortion providers are already the most regulated health care providers in the state, and abortion remains one of the safest medical procedures," he said. "They're specifying what fabric can be used on window coverings, the ceiling height, how loud the air conditioning can be. What does this have to do with women's safety? This has to do with politics."
The passing of this legislation broke a long-standing stalemate in the Virginia General Assembly, where bills promoting stricter regulation of abortion clinics have been approved for several years by the GOP-led conservative House of Delegates previously stopped a Senate committee stacked with abortion rights supporters.
Republican leadership stated in February that the new regulations were demanded as part of an effort to provide the best medical services for women. However, anti-abortion activists haled the passage as a step toward banning abortion in Virginia.
Susan Hays, and anti abortion activist stated to the Washington Post at the time, "We support these regulations, and it's the first push to stop the legalization of killing babies."
Helderman, Rosalind, Virginia Assembly Says Abortion Clinics Should be Regulated as Hospitals. In The Washington Post February 25, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/24/AR2011022407874.html
Hutchison, Courtney. Virginia Legislation May Shout Down Abortion Providers In ABC News Health August 31, 2011. < http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WomensHealth/virginia-legislation-shut-abortion-providers/story?id=14412922>Ibid.
Helderman, Rosalind, Virginia Assembly Says Abortion Clinics Should be Regulated as Hospitals. In The Washington Post February 25, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/24/AR2011022407874.html
These regulations come as the result of legislation passed last February by the Virginia General Assembly stating that abortion providers, even for first trimester procedures normally done in a doctors office setting, must be regulated as and meet hospital standards. Concerns about the expense and burden this would put on providers was minimized by abortion opponents, but now these fears seem justified.
"Colonoscopies, dental surgery and plastic surgery are much more invasive than the abortions we provide, and they are not being asked to live up to this kind of strict regulation. That tells you right there that this is not about safety, it's about politics," Jill Abbey, director of several womens clinics state to ABC News. Abbey states that these new regulations will effectively close her offices and many others.
In a statement to ABC Ted Miller, a spokesman for Naral Pro-Choice America, said that none of the 21 clinics providing abortions currently meet the rigorous standards laid out in the draft regulation.
"Abortion providers are already the most regulated health care providers in the state, and abortion remains one of the safest medical procedures," he said. "They're specifying what fabric can be used on window coverings, the ceiling height, how loud the air conditioning can be. What does this have to do with women's safety? This has to do with politics."
The passing of this legislation broke a long-standing stalemate in the Virginia General Assembly, where bills promoting stricter regulation of abortion clinics have been approved for several years by the GOP-led conservative House of Delegates previously stopped a Senate committee stacked with abortion rights supporters.
Republican leadership stated in February that the new regulations were demanded as part of an effort to provide the best medical services for women. However, anti-abortion activists haled the passage as a step toward banning abortion in Virginia.
Susan Hays, and anti abortion activist stated to the Washington Post at the time, "We support these regulations, and it's the first push to stop the legalization of killing babies."
Helderman, Rosalind, Virginia Assembly Says Abortion Clinics Should be Regulated as Hospitals. In The Washington Post February 25, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/24/AR2011022407874.html
Hutchison, Courtney. Virginia Legislation May Shout Down Abortion Providers In ABC News Health August 31, 2011. < http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WomensHealth/virginia-legislation-shut-abortion-providers/story?id=14412922>Ibid.
Helderman, Rosalind, Virginia Assembly Says Abortion Clinics Should be Regulated as Hospitals. In The Washington Post February 25, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/24/AR2011022407874.html