My name is Dr. Serina Floyd and I am a Board Certified Obstetrician Gynecologist practicing in Northern Virginia. I have also been an abortion provider for over 10 years. I would like urge the Board of Health to adopt the proposed amendments so regulations on women’s health centers are based in science and medicine, not politics.

I know that the Board of Health is committed to protecting and promoting public health in Virginia. To do so, the Board must ground health center regulations in evidence-based medicine. Abortion is one of the safest medical procedures. According to the Centers for Disease Control, abortion has a safety rate of 99% and a less than 1% complication rate. Rather than promoting and protecting patient health and safety, the draft regulations could impose unnecessary burdens on clinics that could result in their closures. When Texas passed restrictive abortion laws, nearly half of the clinics in the state were forced to close. Now, Texas woman must travel longer distances to access safe and legal abortion care. The impact on patients is significant, resulting in higher costs and logistical challenges like arranging travel and childcare. Because of this women may delay care or experience serious emotional distress. Clinics also offer other important reproductive health care services in addition to abortion. Closures mean that women lose access to crucial preventive services, STI and cancer screening, birth control and mammograms.

I am proud to represent physicians across Virginia who oppose these restrictions. I support laws and standards that improve the safety of abortion and my patients’ well-being but these arbitrary building requirements have no medical basis and no relationship with patient safety. I encourage you to revise these restrictions and adopt the proposed amendments so Virginians can access the comprehensive reproductive health care services they need and deserve.