Prior to the implementation of regulations in 2012, the Virginia abortion industry had gone unregulated for far too long. The announced inspections by the Department of Health revealed widespread and hundreds of health and safety violations, including blood splattered exam tables and equipment, unsterilized equipment, poorly or untrained staff, violations of state parental consent laws, lack of reporting of possible cases of child sexual abuse, to name a few. These violations reveal a serious need for the regulations of these facilities in order to protect women who seek out abortions..
