Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Virginia Department of Health
 
Board
State Board of Health
 
chapter
Regulations for Licensure of Abortion Facilities [12 VAC 5 ‑ 412]
Action Amend the Regulation after Assessment and Receipt of Public Comment
Stage NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 10/31/2018
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10/12/18  9:39 pm
Commenter: Linda E. Stowell

Abortion facilies
 
  • Reinstate all of the health and safety measures the Board unlawfully watered down during its last amendment process. 
  • Require all OLC inspections to verify that ultrasounds have been performed at least 24 hours prior to every abortion performed. 
  • Require annual inspections on abortion facilities instead of biennial. 
  • Remove the ability of the Commissioner to grant permanent variances.
  • Reinstate the definition of "first trimester" as being the first twelve weeks from conception, not "13 weeks and 6 days after last menstrual period." 
  • Reinstate the ability of the department to deny, suspend, or revoke the license to operate an abortion facility for violating "any provision of Article 1 (§ 32.1-123 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 32.1."
  • Reinstate the requirement that abortion facilities provide information on post-abortion counseling to its patients.
  • Reinstate the requirement that the abortion facility ensure that it has removed all of the fetal body parts from inside of the female patient upon the performance of an abortion. 
  • Reinstate the requirement that abortion facilities report to OLC any incidents reported to the malpractice insurance carrier.
  • Reinstate the reasonable design and construction standards that provided for things such as hallways wide enough to carry patients out on stretchers in cases of emergency.
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  • These are just common sense policies that protect women. Please pay attention to the above.
CommentID: 67589