Board of Health,

I am concerned that Gov McAuliffe is attempting to circumvent the commonsense regulations to protect womens health and safety at abortion clinics in the state. In 2012, the General Assembly passed clear legislation that treat such clinics as other med/surgical centers in the state. That is, they should have the capacity to treat any emergency with the promptness that safeguards the lives of their patients. Regular inspections by the Department of Health ensure that such regulations have meaning. According to my information, in the last 2 years such inspections have turned up over 300 violations indicating an industry that is putting womens health at risk and thereby needing greater oversight. Robert Barnes