Abortion Clinics Receiving Strict Regulation - Finally

For too long abortion clinics have been allowed to operate outside of any regulation that would help protect the lives of their female patients. Twenty-two states have taken action to correct this tragic oversight – Virginia is the latest to protect women’s health.

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) just adopted proposed regulations written in response to SB 924 enacted by the Virginia General Assembly earlier this year. The stated purpose of these new regulations is “to promote and assure the safety of patients who receive first trimester abortion services.” VDH further states that the need for these regulations “has been extensively and publicly articulated over the past several years during the annual sessions of the Virginia General Assembly.” In other words, the citizens of Virginia have made it clear to the politicians of Virginia that abortion businesses can no longer operate with little to no oversight.

The drafting and enactment of these regulations have been on the ACLJ’s radar for some time. Virginia Beach Planned Parenthood is desperately trying to expand their abortion business by adding two abortion operating rooms and achieving “hospital status.” Such an expansion would allow these abortionists to start performing 2nd trimester abortions in addition to the 1st trimester abortions they have been performing. Thankfully, these new regulations are one of many obstacles standing in their way.

The regulations require any facility that provides 5 or more 1st trimester abortions a month to apply for a license from the state, which will need to be renewed each year. The regulations applicable to the license require the facility to allow on-site inspections, which will assess the facilities compliance with the regulations. Such inspections will assess the operation and management, infection prevention, patient care, medical records and reports, functional safety and maintenance as well as the design and construction of the facility.

The regulations will go into effect on January 1, 2012 and it is anticipated that they will have a large impact on existing abortion clinics. We will be sure to keep you updated on this impact, as well as the status of Virginia Beach Planned Parenthood’s quest for the addition of 2 operating rooms.