“We must not travel down a dangerous slippery slope where we allow political forces to dictate medical care.”

So said dozens and dozens of doctors and other medical professionals to the Richmond Times-Dispatch in September 2012.  We are still sliding down that slippery slope.  The TRAP regulations in Virginia – cloned around the country by those who oppose women’s access to affordable health care – are not based on medical necessity, but on politics:

--NON-PROFESSIONAL REGULATION:  When this debate began, the Virginia Department of Health’s evidence-based recommendations were overturned and members pressured to accept new draconian restrictions suggested by anti-choice politicians.  Regulations really meant to upgrade our quality of healthcare would be based on informed medical advice.

--TARGETTED REGULATION:  TRAP regulations and other proposed changes are aimed at one thing:  restricting and eventually eliminating abortion.  Regulations really meant to upgrade our quality of healthcare would not seek to prevent a safe and legal medical procedure.

--SELECTIVE REGULATION:  Modifications required of clinics that provide women’s healthcare – including abortions - are not required of other clinics that perform even riskier routine procedures.  Regulations really meant to upgrade our quality of healthcare would uphold the same standards for everyone – pity the poor colonoscopy patient who is put at risk by not having those mandated wider corridors in his clinic.

--RESTRICTING ACCESS:  TRAP regulations make it virtually impossible to keep clinics open (several have already closed), cutting off many women’s only access to cancer screenings, mammograms, and other routine life-saving health care.  Regulations that really seek to upgrade our quality of healthcare would broaden access, not further restrict it – especially for low-income citizens. 

By all means, regulate clinics and other healthcare facilities.  But it’s time to throw out the unnecessary and burdensome regulations and inject some medically sound sense into this debate.  With the legislature unwilling to extend already paid-for health coverage to hundreds of thousands of poor Virginians, we need these clinics more than ever.

Let’s get sensible, Virginia!

Thank you for allowing me to express my views.