Board of Health,

The Virginia Legislature passed the legislation that was aimed at protecting women who choose to have abortions. Subsequently, the Board passed regulations that implemented that legislation. There was extended public debate during the Legislatures deliberations and extensive public comments during the promulgation of the implementing regulations. The Board finalized those rules by an 11-2 vote. We have become aware through the media of some of the terrible conditions that women have to endure during abortion procedures in other states. However, in just two years, inspections have exposed widespread health and safety violations including blood splattered exam tables and equipment, unsterilized needles, incomplete lifesaving equipment, violations of Virginia parental consent laws, an absence of reporting of possible cases of child abuse, and many more deficiencies in the Commonwealths clinic. Taking any action that reduces the protections that these rules provide would be a dereliction of duty by the Board. Politics should be left out of regulations that provide for the health and safety of women. Emergencies happen frequently at abortion centers and emergency personnel need to be able to get to patients in need and that involves having doorways and hallways wide enough to get emergency equipment to women in medical crisis. Thank you for your consideration of my comments. Frank R Schwamberger